ABSTRACT
LEAVING the garc1el1s of tIle Bamullg,vato, ,vhicIl extended many miles alollg the foot of the mountain, and entering into the forests 011 the nortIlerll side of the mountaill rallge, ,ve ,vere fairly beyond all traces of civilization. WIlen about thili~y ll1iles to the northeast of SIlooshong, by tIle Mahalapye river, we were startled by the appearance of a number of armed men, emerging from the surrounding bushes. They were friends, however, alld Mr. Moffat soon recognised them as the people of Matshen, the thell deposed cIlief of the Bamangwato, and tIle brother of Sekhomi, tIle present chief: they were sent vvith a message to MI'. Moffat. Matshen, as I afterwards understood, had been a captive in tIle Amalldebele Country from childhood, llntil he grew up to be a luan; but being the riglltflll heir to tIlO cIlieftaillship of the Bamangvvato,
his people had always been very desirous of recovering hiln. Hellce, whell Mr. Moffl-lt passed their town on a former visit to Umzilikazi, they requested hiln to use Ilis influellce witll that potelltate, ill releasillg and restoriIlg to them their rightful chief. Mr. Moffat succeeded, and, brillgillg Matshen with him on his return hOllle to the Kuruman, as far as the Bamangwanto, left him there. But the yOUIlg chief had acquired the Amandebelean habits, and lle natllrally began to imitate Umzilikazi in his way of ruling the people. The Bechuana, not having been accustomed to the iron rule of a despot, rebelled, alld, calling the Bakwena to their aid, drove Matshen away from the place, and reinstated Sekhome, in his office as cllief.
