When we reached Litofe, we heard that a fresh foray was in contemplation, but I sent forward orders to disband the party immediately.  At Ma-Sekeletu’s town we found the head offender, Mpololo himself, and I gave him a bit of my mind, to the effect that, as I was going with the full sanction of Sekeletu, if any harm happened to me in consequence of his ill-advised expedition, the guilt would rest with him.  Ma-Sekeletu, who was present, heartily approved all I said, and suggested that all the captives taken by Lerimo should be returned by my hand, to show Masiko that the guilt of the foray lay not with the superior persons of the Makololo, but with a mere servant.  Her good sense appeared in other respects besides, and, as this was exactly what my own party had previously resolved to suggest, we were pleased to hear Mpololo agree to do what he was advised.  He asked me to lay the matter before the under-chiefs of Naliele, and when we reached that place, on the 9th of December, I did so in a picho, called expressly for the purpose.  Lerimo was present, and felt rather crestfallen when his exploit was described by Mohorisi, one of my companions, as one of extreme cowardice, he having made an attack upon the defenseless villagers of Londa, while, as we had found on our former visit, a lion had actually killed eight people of Naliele without his daring to encounter it.  The Makololo are cowardly in respect to animals, but brave against men.  Mpololo took all the guilt upon himself before the people, and delivered up a captive child whom his wife had in her possession; others followed his example, till we procured the release of five of the prisoners.  Some thought, as Masiko had tried to take their children by stratagem, they ought to take his by force, as the two modes suited the genius of each people—­the Makalaka delight in cunning, and the Makololo in fighting; and others thought, if Sekeletu meant them to be at peace with Masiko, he ought to have told them so.

It is rather dangerous to tread in the footsteps of a marauding party with men of the same tribe as the aggressors, but my people were in good spirits, and several volunteers even offered to join our ranks.  We, however, adhered strictly to the orders of Sekeletu as to our companions, and refused all others.

The people of every village treated us most liberally, presenting, besides oxen, butter, milk, and meal, more than we could stow away in our canoes.  The cows in this valley are now yielding, as they frequently do, more milk than the people can use, and both men and women present butter in such quantity that I shall be able to refresh my men as we move along.  Anointing the skin prevents the excessive evaporation of the fluids of the body, and acts as clothing in both sun and shade.  They always made their presents gracefully.  When an ox was given, the owner would say, “Here is a little bit of bread for you.”  This was pleasing, for I had been accustomed to the Bechuanas presenting a miserable goat, with the pompous exclamation, “Behold an ox!” The women persisted in giving me copious supplies of shrill praises, or “lullilooing”; but, though I frequently told them to modify their “great lords” and “great lions” to more humble expressions, they so evidently intended to do me honor that I could not help being pleased with the poor creatures’ wishes for our success.