of
November we again reached the town of Sesheke. It stands on the north
bank of the river, and contains a large population of Makalaka, under
Moriantsane, brother-in-law of Sebituane. There are parties of various
tribes here, assembled under their respective head men, but a few
Makololo rule over all. Their sway, though essentially despotic, is
considerably modified by certain customs and laws. One of the Makalaka
had speared an ox belonging to one of the Makololo, and, being unable to
extract the spear, was thereby discovered to be the perpetrator of the
deed. His object had been to get a share of the meat, as Moriantsane is
known to be liberal with any food that comes into his hands. The culprit
was bound hand and foot, and placed in the sun to force him to pay a
fine, but he continued to deny his guilt. His mother, believing in
the innocence of her son, now came forward, with her hoe in hand, and,
threatening to cut down any one who should dare to interfere, untied the
cords with which he had been bound and took him home. This open defiance
of authority was not resented by Moriantsane, but referred to Sekeletu
at Linyanti.

The following circumstance, which happened here when I was present
with Sekeletu, shows that the simple mode of punishment, by forcing a
criminal to work out a fine, did not strike the Makololo mind until now.

A stranger having visited Sesheke for the purpose of barter, was robbed
by one of the Makalaka of most of his goods. The thief, when caught,
confessed the theft, and that he had given the articles to a person who
had removed to a distance. The Makololo were much enraged at the idea of
their good name being compromised by this treatment of a stranger. Their
customary mode of punishing a crime which causes much indignation is to
throw the criminal into the river; but, as this would not restore
the lost property, they were sorely puzzled how to act. The case was
referred to me, and I solved the difficulty by paying for the loss
myself, and sentencing the thief to work out an equivalent with his hoe
in a garden. This system was immediately introduced, and thieves are
now sentenced to raise an amount of corn proportioned to their offenses.
Among the Bakwains, a woman who had stolen from the garden of another
was obliged to part with her own entirely: it became the property of her
whose field was injured by the crime.

There is no stated day of rest in any part of this country, except the
day