The Making Of An �Explorer�

In about 1847 Sechele, probably not for the first time, travelled to Ngamiland to consolidate his partnership with Letsholathebe. One of the Mokwena’s daughter was betrothed as the Motawana’s Mohumagadi (she died shortly after the marriage). It was also in the aftermath of this visit that Letsholathebe, in April 1849, sent seven envoys to Sechele requesting that he send some makgoa to Gatawana to establish direct trade.

Among other things, Sechele’s agreement to honour the request resulted in his heretofore obscure missionary, David Livingstone, gaining initial fame for his association with the so-called “discovery” of Lake Ngami.