o me,
as to their chief, for judgment. This had occurred several times before,
so without a thought I went out of the Portuguese merchant's house in
which I was a guest, sat down, and heard the complaint and defense in
the usual way. When I had given my decision in the common admonitory
form, they went off apparently satisfied. Several Portuguese, who had
been viewing the proceedings with great interest, complimented me on the
success of my teaching them how to act in litigation; but I could not
take any credit to myself for the system which I had found ready-made to
my hands.

Soon after our arrival at Linyanti, Sekeletu took me aside, and pressed
me to mention those things I liked best and hoped to get from him. Any
thing, either in or out of his town, should be freely given if I would
only mention it. I explained to him that my object was to elevate him
and his people to be Christians; but he replied he did not wish to learn
to read the Book, for he was afraid "it might change his heart, and make
him content with only one wife, like Sechele." It was of little use to
urge that the change of heart implied a contentment with one wife equal
to his present complacency in polygamy. Such a preference after the
change of mind could not now be understood by him any more than the
real, unmistakable pleasure of religious services can by those who have
not experienced what is known by the term the "new heart". I assured him
that nothing was expected but by his own voluntary decision. "No, no;
he wanted always to have five wives at least." I liked the frankness of
Sekeletu, for nothing is so wearying to the spirit as talking to those
who agree with every thing advanced.

Sekeletu, according to the system of the Bechuanas, became possessor of
his father's wives, and adopted two of them; the children by these women
are, however, in these cases, termed brothers. When an elder brother
dies, the same thing occurs in respect of his wives; the brother next in
age takes them, as among the Jews, and the children that may be born
of those women he calls brothers also. He thus raises up seed to his
departed relative. An uncle of Sekeletu, being a younger brother of
Sebituane, got that chieftain's head-wife or queen: there is always
one who enjoys this title. Her hut is called the great house, and her
children inherit the chieftainship. If she dies, a new wife is selected
for the same position, and enjoys the same privileges, though she may