The lad offered beads, but these were refused with scorn.

A shell hanging round his neck, similar to that which Shinte had given me, was the object demanded, and the victim of the trick, as we all knew it to be, was obliged to part with his costly ornament.

I could not save him from the loss, as all had been forewarned; and it is the universal custom among the Makololo and many other tribes to show whatever they may find to the chief person of their company, and make a sort of offer of it to him.

This lad ought to have done so to me; the rest of the party always observed this custom.

I felt annoyed at the imposition, but the order we invariably followed in crossing a river forced me to submit.