old-fashioned rifles, which I felt certain in the majority of
cases, judging from their general rusty appearance round
the nipples, would not go off when required. Of course it
must be remembered that their foes from the north were
armed only with assegais.
Preparations for war were carried on vigorously. The
infantry turned out every afternoon during our stay, but I
should say that at no time was there a larger muster than
300 or 900, although I was told that Khama could raise
6,000 men. I do not think Khama could arm such a
number. The cavalry, I was told, numbered 300, but only
150 had saddles. One morning, when I was taking my
observations for longitude, I saw a number of them upon
the plain in front of the town.
There was no uniform, either for cavalry or infantry.
All put on what rags and old clothes of Europeans they
could find. Under these circumstances it may be imagined
that the back view of a company of foot was most ridiculous
; some had shirts, while others were almost naked,
but they all wore a cap of buckskin, black or white, the
distinguishing mark of their companies.
Yery peculiar was their mode of drill. A company would
hustle together, and huddle up one to another, all marching
with a sort of “ mark time ” motion, with very short paces.
As they moved they sang in rather a quaint style, not
altogether devoid of music. Suddenly two of the warriors
started off ahead of the company at a rapid prancing gait
and showing the bearing of defiance. After a few manoeuvres
of this nature the couple would return, and another file,
from a different company, would sally bravely forth to go
through similar movements.
How these warriors would bear themselves in front of a
formidable Matabeli impi is too difficult a question for me
to decide. But I have been told that they are frightful
cowards. Here again, it may be the case that contact with
civilisation has tended to make the people effeminate.
Certainly it has not improved them in appearance.
Khama has but one wife, and she previously belonged to
Lo-bengula, but had run away from him. I understand that
when inquiries were made concerning her by her deserted
F r e d e r ic k Co u r t e n e y S e l o u s .
spouse, Khama replied that she was “ fat and had plenty to
eat,’1 fatness being the chief end of Kaffir ambition.
I cannot say that I regretted when the time came when;
we were to saddle up and take leave of Shoshong, or
Bamangwato. Selous and myself, however, were sorry to
part with Argent Kirton, who had proved such a merry com-,
panion. How, however, he had to wend his way southwards,
d 2