Mokele, The Headman Of Sesheke, And Sebituane's Sister, Manchunyane,
Were Ordered To Provide Us With Food, As Sekeletu's Wives, To Whom
This Duty Properly Belonged, Were At Linyanti.
We found a black
trader from the West Coast, and some Griqua traders from the South,
both in search of ivory.
Ivory is dear at Sesheke; but cheaper in
the Batoka country, from Sinamane's to the Kafue, than anywhere else.
The trader from Benguela took orders for goods for his next year's
trip, and offered to bring tea, coffee, and sugar at cent. per cent.
prices. As, in consequence of a hint formerly given, the Makololo
had secured all the ivory in the Batoga country to the east, by
purchasing it with hoes, the Benguela traders found it unprofitable
to go thither for slaves. They assured us that without ivory the
trade in slaves did not pay. In this way, and by the orders of
Sekeletu, an extensive slave-mart was closed. These orders were
never infringed except secretly. We discovered only two or three
cases of their infraction.
Sekeletu was well pleased with the various articles we brought for
him, and inquired if a ship could not bring his sugar-mill and the
other goods we had been obliged to leave behind at Tette. On hearing
that there was a possibility of a powerful steamer ascending as far
as Sinamane's, but never above the Grand Victoria Falls, he asked,
with charming simplicity, if a cannon could not blow away the Falls,
so as to allow the vessel to come up to Sesheke.
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