In Reference To A Man
Being Given, I Declared That We Were All Ready To Die Rather Than Give Up
One Of Our Number To Be A Slave; That My Men Might As Well Give Me
As I Give One Of Them, For We Were All Free Men.
"Then you can give the gun
with which the ox was shot." As we heard some of his people
Remarking even now that we had only "five guns", we declined,
on the ground that, as they were intent on plundering us,
giving a gun would be helping them to do so.
This they denied, saying they wanted the customary tribute only.
I asked what right they had to demand payment for leave to tread
on the ground of God, our common Father. If we trod on their gardens,
we would pay, but not for marching on land which was still God's,
and not theirs. They did not attempt to controvert this,
because it is in accordance with their own ideas, but reverted again
to the pretended crime of the saliva.
My men now entreated me to give something; and after asking the chief
if he really thought the affair of the spitting a matter of guilt,
and receiving an answer in the affirmative, I gave him one of my shirts.
The young Chiboque were dissatisfied, and began shouting
and brandishing their swords for a greater fine.
As Pitsane felt that he had been the cause of this disagreeable affair,
he asked me to add something else. I gave a bunch of beads,
but the counselors objected this time, so I added a large handkerchief.
The more I yielded, the more unreasonable their demands became,
and at every fresh demand a shout was raised by the armed party,
and a rush made around us with brandishing of arms. One young man
made a charge at my head from behind, but I quickly brought round
the muzzle of my gun to his mouth, and he retreated. I pointed him out
to the chief, and he ordered him to retire a little. I felt anxious
to avoid the effusion of blood; and though sure of being able,
with my Makololo, who had been drilled by Sebituane, to drive off
twice the number of our assailants, though now a large body,
and well armed with spears, swords, arrows, and guns, I strove to avoid
actual collision. My men were quite unprepared for this exhibition,
but behaved with admirable coolness. The chief and counselors,
by accepting my invitation to be seated, had placed themselves in a trap,
for my men very quietly surrounded them, and made them feel
that there was no chance of escaping their spears. I then said that,
as one thing after another had failed to satisfy them, it was evident
that THEY wanted to fight, while WE only wanted to pass peaceably
through the country; that they must begin first, and bear the guilt
before God: we would not fight till they had struck the first blow.
I then sat silent for some time.
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