missions, as of old.  Presents were always given to the chiefs whom we visited, and nothing accepted in return; but when Sebituane (in 1851) offered some ivory, I took it, and was able by its sale to present his son with a number of really useful articles of a higher value than I had ever been able to give before to any chief.  In doing this, of course, I appeared to trade, but, feeling I had a right to do so, I felt perfectly easy in my mind; and, as I still held the view of the inexpediency of combining the two professions, I was glad of the proposal of one of the most honorable merchants of Cape Town, Mr. H. E. Rutherford, that he should risk a sum of money in Fleming’s hands for the purpose of attempting to develop a trade with the Makololo.  It was to this man I suggested Sekeletu should sell the tusks which he had presented for my acceptance, but the chief refused to take them back from me.  The goods which Fleming had brought were ill adapted for the use of the natives, but he got a pretty good load of ivory in exchange; and though it was his first attempt at trading, and the distance traveled over made the expenses enormous, he was not a loser by the trip.  Other traders followed, who demanded 90 lbs. of ivory for a musket.  The Makololo, knowing nothing of steelyards, but supposing that they were meant to cheat them, declined to trade except by exchanging one bull and one cow elephant’s tusk for each gun.  This would average 70 lbs. of ivory, which sells at the Cape for 5s. per pound, for a second-hand musket worth 10s.  I, being sixty miles distant, did not witness this attempt at barter, but, anxious to enable my countrymen to drive a brisk trade, told the Makololo to sell my ten tusks on their own account for whatever they would bring.  Seventy tusks were for sale, but, the parties not understanding each other’s talk, no trade was established; and when I passed the spot some time afterward, I found that the whole of that ivory had been destroyed by an accidental fire, which broke out in the village when all the people were absent.  Success in trade is as much dependent on knowledge of the language as success in traveling.

I had brought with me as presents an improved breed of goats, fowls, and a pair of cats.  A superior bull was bought, also as a gift to Sekeletu, but I was compelled to leave it on account of its having become foot-sore.  As the Makololo are very fond of improving the breed of their domestic animals, they were much pleased with my selection.  I endeavored to bring the bull, in performance of a promise made to Sebituane before he died.  Admiring a calf which we had with us, he proposed to give me a cow for it, which in the native estimation was offering three times its value.  I presented it to him at once, and promised to bring him another and a better one.  Sekeletu was much gratified by my attempt to keep my word given to his father.