Having entered the Loangwa, flowing to the eastward, they found it advisable to return, as the natives in those parts became more warlike the further they went in that direction.  Before turning, the Arab pointed out an elevated ridge in the distance, and said to the Makololo, “When we see that, we always know that we are only ten or fifteen days from the sea.”  On seeing him afterward, he informed me that on the same ridge, but much further to the north, the Banyassa lived, and that the rivers flowed from it toward the S.W.  He also confirmed the other Arab’s account that the Loapula, which he had crossed at the town of Cazembe, flowed in the same direction, and into the Leeambye.

Several of the influential Makololo who had engaged in these marauding expeditions had died before our arrival, and Nokwane had succumbed to his strange disease.  Ramosantane had perished through vomiting blood from over-fatigue in the march, and Lerimo was affected by a leprosy peculiar to the Barotse valley.  In accordance with the advice of my Libonta friends, I did not fail to reprove “my child Sekeletu” for his marauding.  This was not done in an angry manner, for no good is ever achieved by fierce denunciations.  Motibe, his father-in-law, said to me, “Scold him much, but don’t let others hear you.”

The Makololo expressed great satisfaction with the route we had opened up to the west, and soon after our arrival a “picho” was called, in order to discuss the question of removal to the Barotse valley, so that they might be nearer the market.  Some of the older men objected to abandoning the line of defense afforded by the rivers Chobe and Zambesi against their southern enemies the Matebele.  The Makololo generally have an aversion to the Barotse valley, on account of the fevers which are annually engendered in it as the waters dry up.  They prefer it only as a cattle station; for, though the herds are frequently thinned by an epidemic disease (peripneumonia), they breed so fast that the losses are soon made good.  Wherever else the Makololo go, they always leave a portion of their stock in the charge of herdsmen in that prolific valley.  Some of the younger men objected to removal, because the rankness of the grass at the Barotse did not allow of their running fast, and because there “it never becomes cool.”

Sekeletu at last stood up, and, addressing me, said, “I am perfectly satisfied as to the great advantages for trade of the path which you have opened, and think that we ought to go to the Barotse, in order to make the way from us to Loanda shorter; but with whom am I to live there?  If you were coming with us, I would remove to-morrow; but now you are going to the white man’s country to bring Ma Robert, and when you return you will find me near to the spot on which you wish to dwell.”  I had then no idea that any healthy spot existed in the country, and thought only of a convenient central situation, adapted for intercourse with the adjacent tribes and with the coast, such as that near to the confluence of the Leeba and Leeambye.