THE NGWATO OF BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE 75
dative status of a chief's wives, with the result that there would be
tore than one claimant to the succession. Sometimes, too, a
igent acting for a minor chief would attempt to usurp the chief-
linship permanently, or an ambitious prince would revolt against
a unpopular ruler. But in every instance the rival claimant was
imself of royal birth. No man who was not a senior member of
tie ruling family could ever hope to become recognized as chief.
Kgosi ke kgosi ka a tsetswe', say the Ngwato (*A chief is chief
Because he is born (to it)*). Since, as we have seen, the whole social
ystem of the tribe emphasizes the principle of hereditary rank,
ince every local authority (except the district governor, a rela-
ively recent creation) owes his position to the fact that he is the
egitimate heir of his predecessor, the chief's status as head of the
eading family in the tribe is sufficient in itself to secure for him
the respect and obedience of his people. ^6^' p- 73 f\
Under the European Administration, hereditary succession to the chieftainship still prevails, but with certain modifications. It was early laid down that no chief could exercise jurisdiction over his tribe unless he had been recognized by the High Commissioner and confirmed by the Secretary of State. In effect, this made no difference to the succession, as among the Ngwato the rightful heir was always accepted by the Administration as chief. Under the new Proclamations, however, the Administration has assumed the right of refusing to recognize or confirm the heir as chief, if he appears, after public inquiry, 'not to be a fit and proper person to exercise the functions of the chieftainship'. So far no occasion has occurred for such refusal. But the possibility it embodies of passing over the legitimate successor in favour of a junior member of the royal family introduces a principle foreign to Ngwato law. Formerly such an event could only occur as the result of deliberate usurpation, resulting probably
in civil war. /8 3^7/5"^
By virtue of his descent, the,fchief was formerly the link between his people and the spirits governing their welfare. His dead ancestors were held to afford supernatural protection and assistance to the people they had once ruled, and on all important occasions he would sacrifice and pray to them on behalf of the tribe. The role he thus played as tribal priest, a role which only he, as senior descendant of the ancestral gods, could fill, helps to explain the great reverence in which he was always held by his