THE NGWATO OF BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE 81
policy was to rule as much as possible through the chief, the Administration tended in most cases to uphold his authority, without inquiring too closely into the merits of the trouble. Freed, in consequence, from fear of the sanctions formerly restraining him, he became more arbitrary in action and jealous of any challenge to his authority. Kgama was a man of exceptional ability and enterprise, who through sheer force of personality was able to do much for the material advancement of his people; but he was also firmly insistent on his rights as chief, and brooked no opposition. The right of appeal from the chiefs verdicts established in 1919 did little to help, since, by an astonishing arrangement, the appeal court consisted of the District Commissioner and the chief himself!
The Native Administration Proclamation has at last provided more effective machinery for controlling the chief and protecting the tribe against oppression or maladministration. While making it a statutory offence for any tribesman to 'conspire against or subvert or attempt to subvert' the authority of the chief, the Proclamation specifically states that this provision does not apply to bona fide criticism of his rule. On the other hand, should the chief (or any other tribal authority) fail to carry out the duties imposed upon him, he can be tried by the District Commissioner and, if convicted, fined or imprisoned. Moreover, if he at any time 'neglects or fails to discharge properly his duties as chief, or becomes physically incapable of carrying them out properly, or abuses his authority and oppresses his people, or otherwise proves to be a bad chief, he can, after having been given an opportunity of defending himself, be suspended from the exercise of his duties as chief; and until his suspension has been withdrawn, some one else, appointed either by the tribe or by the Administration, will act in his place. If the tribe so desires, but only then, the chief may even be deposed permanently. If necessary, he may also be ordered, after suspension or deposal, to leave the Reserve, and not to enter it again until given permission to do so.
As an institution, the chieftainship is still greatly honoured and respected, and the people still look primarily to the chief as their ruler and guide. But his loss of many old ritual and economic functions, the presence of a rival leader in the form of the missionary, and, above all, his subjection to the Administration, have inevitably deprived him of much of his authority. Moreover,