Our Men Made It Known Everywhere That We Wished The Tribes To Live In
Peace, And Would Use Our Influence To Induce Sekeletu To Prevent The
Batoka Of Moshobotwane And The Makololo Under-Chiefs Making Forays
Into Their Country:
They had already suffered severely, and their
remonstrances with their countryman, Moshobotwane, evoked only the
answer, "The Makololo have given me a spear; why should I not use
it?" He, indeed, it was who, being remarkably swift of foot, first
guided the Makololo in their conquest of the country.
In the
character of peacemakers, therefore, we experienced abundant
hospitality; and, from the Kafue to the Falls, none of our party was
allowed to suffer hunger. The natives sent to our sleeping-places
generous presents of the finest white meal, and fat capons to give it
a relish, great pots of beer to comfort our hearts, together with
pumpkins, beans, and tobacco, so that we "should sleep neither hungry
nor thirsty."
In travelling from the Kafue to the Zungwe we frequently passed
several villages in the course of a day's march. In the evening came
deputies from the villages, at which we could not stay to sleep, with
liberal presents of food. It would have pained them to have allowed
strangers to pass without partaking of their hospitality; repeatedly
were we hailed from huts, and asked to wait a moment and drink a
little of the beer, which was brought with alacrity. Our march
resembled a triumphant procession. We entered and left every village
amidst the cheers of its inhabitants; the men clapping their hands,
and the women lullilooing, with the shrill call, "Let us sleep," or
"Peace." Passing through a hamlet one day, our guide called to the
people, "Why do you not clap your hands and salute when you see men
who are wishing to bring peace to the land?" When we halted for the
night it was no uncommon thing for the people to prepare our camp
entirely of their own accord; some with hoes quickly smoothed the
ground for our beds, others brought dried grass and spread it
carefully over the spot; some with their small axes speedily made a
bush fence to shield us from the wind; and if, as occasionally
happened, the water was a little distance off, others hastened and
brought it with firewood to cook our food with.
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