Long secret conferences were held by the slave-traders and Mpepe, and it was deemed advisable for him to strike the first blow; so he provided himself with a small battle-axe, with the intention of cutting Sekeletu down the first time they met.
My object being first of all to examine the country for a healthy locality, before attempting to make a path to either the East or West Coast, I proposed to Sekeletu the plan of ascending the great river which we had discovered in 1851.

He volunteered to accompany me, and, when we got about sixty miles away, on the road to Sesheke, we encountered Mpepe.

The Makololo, though possessing abundance of cattle, had never attempted to ride oxen until I advised it in 1851.

The Bechuanas generally were in the same condition, until Europeans came among them and imparted the idea of riding.

All their journeys previously were performed on foot.