who was-a native of Basutoland, but had quitted that
country shortly after its invasion by Sekonyela, the chief
of the Mantalis, and with incredible perseverance cut a
way by force of arms to the Zambezi, after having covered
a distance of nearly 2000 miles. He found on his arrival
on the Upper Zambezi that the. Matoka were in power
there. They were an extremely fierce tribe, given to all
kinds of cruelties, their villages being ornamented with
the skulls of their enemies. Sebitoani’s contact with
them nearly resulted in his downfall. At the very first
the Matoka came across the Basuto, hoping to surprise
them, but Sebitoani kept the chief of the Matoka at
arm’s-length, and on the other side of the river the two
enemies came to blows. The Matoka were beaten,
leaving an immense number of cattle in Sebitoani’s hands.
The Basuto chief then established himself on the banks
of the Katone river, but was constantly harassed by the
warlike Matabele, sometimes conquering, sometimes conquered.
At last, in order to avoid these incessant
conflicts, he decided to go higher up the river ; and after
having beaten the Barotse, who defended themselves
bravely, he took possession and settled down in their
valley. Nothing daunted, the Matabele determined to
revenge their last repulse, and sent an impi along the
right bank of the river Zambezi. On their arrival
Sebitoani appeared to receive them in a most friendly
manner, and conducted them to an island where he had
already despatched some herds of cattle. While the
Matabele gorged themselves with meat in happy ignorance
of their fate, the canoes departed, and when famine
had done its work and the Makololo judged their enemies
sufficiently weakened, they fell upon them and slaughtered
them to a man. When the news of this treachery reached
the Matabele, Umsili Gazi sent out a fresh impi, who built
their own canoes this time ; but the fever reduced them^ to
such a state of weakness that they were forced to retire.
On their march homewards they were fiercely attacked by
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the Matoka, and only five finally returned to the country
to tell the tale. Such at least is the version of the affair
as narrated by the Makololo.
Sebitoani, by his kindness and justice, soon gained the
affection of the tribes he had. conquered, and they were
not long in accepting his rule with a good grace. When
. once his rule was established, he divided his power,
according to an old Barotse custom, with his eldest
daughter, Ma Moeriosane, who succeeded him on his
death, which occurred from inflammation of the lungs,
shortly after Livingstone’s arrival. Livingstone decided
to stay and explore the Upper Zambezi, but not wishing
to expose his family to the dangers of the murderous
climate, he returned to the Gape in 1851. In 1853 he
started again and went straight to Linyanti (on the river
of that name), then the capital of the Makololo, but to-day
abandoned. The king was then the son of Sebitoani,
Sekeletu, who, though he refused to be converted by
Livingstone, yet accompanied the celebrated traveller
with art escort of 160 men. Livingstone first betook
himself to Shesheke; then he conceived the idea of
opening communications with the West Coast, and for
this purpose Sekeletu furnished him with an escort
of 27 men. Foreseeing his possible death, Livingstone
confided his journal to Sekeletu, begging him to try
and forward it to his father-in-law, Mr. Moffatt, in case
any disaster happened to himself. However, he arrived
quite safely at Loanda, and six months later returned
to the Zambezi, not without 'having endured most terrible
sufferings. He then began to think of establishing himself
on the Zambezi, but the extreme unhealthiness of the
country caused him to hesitate. . The quantity of rain,
the periodical inundations, and the prodigious quantity
of matter in a state of decomposition—which, after each
overflow, remains exposed to the rays of a tropical sun,
while the density of the forests prevent the air from
circulating—render the climate most dangerous even to
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