A Constant Stream Of Visitors Rolled In On Us The Day After Our
Arrival.
Several of them, who had suffered affliction during the
Doctor's absence, seemed to be much affected on seeing him again.
All were in low spirits.
A severe drought had cut off the crops, and
destroyed the pasture of Linyanti, and the people were scattered over
the country in search of wild fruits, and the hospitality of those
whose ground-nuts (Arachis hypogoea) had not failed. Sekeletu's
leprosy brought troops of evils in its train. Believing himself
bewitched, he had suspected a number of his chief men, and had put
some, with their families, to death; others had fled to distant
tribes, and were living in exile. The chief had shut himself up, and
allowed no one to come into his presence but his uncle Mamire.
Ponwane, who had been as "head and eyes" to him, had just died;
evidence, he thought, of the potent spells of those who hated all who
loved the chief. The country was suffering grievously, and
Sebituane's grand empire was crumbling to pieces. A large body of
young Barotse had revolted and fled to the north; killing a man by
the way, in order to put a blood-feud between Masiko, the chief to
whom they were going, and Sekeletu. The Batoka under Sinamane, and
Muemba, were independent, and Mashotlane at the Falls was setting
Sekeletu's authority virtually at defiance. Sebituane's wise policy
in treating the conquered tribes on equal terms with his own
Makololo, as all children of the chief, and equally eligible to the
highest honours, had been abandoned by his son, who married none but
Makololo women, and appointed to office none but Makololo men.
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