XXII MR. JAMES FAIRBAIRN 491 



stuck at it, with tew and short intervals ot rest, until 

 sundown, when we camped beside a stream running 

 beneath a hill which we had taken to be our old 

 friend " Intaba-go-Umbundwan." 



On the morrow, however (August 30), making 

 an early start, we did reach the hill in question by 

 nine o'clock, and by two p.m. the same afternoon 

 once more got home again to our waggons, after an 

 absence of nearly six weeks. 



From this date until the rains commenced to tall, 

 1 continued hunting on horseback, sometimes alone, 

 at others in company with Mr. Jameson ; but as no 

 very stirring incidents happened during that time, 

 and as the country through which I hunted, and the 

 game I encountered, was for the most part similar 

 to that met with in 1878, I think the reader will 

 agree with me, that any detailed account of my 

 proceeciings would be superfluous. 



In November we left the hunting-grounds of the 

 Mashuna country, and trekked out to Gubulawayo, 

 where we spent a few pleasant days with Mr. James 

 Fairbairn, the well-known Matabele trader. This 

 gentleman's name I have, I think, mentioned more 

 than once in the course of these pages ; but let me 

 here assure him, on the chance that these lines may 

 some day meet his eye, that the many acts of kind- 

 ness I have received at his hands, and the many 

 pleasant days — and nights — I have spent from time 

 to time, during my visits to the Matabele country, 

 beneath the homely but hospitable roof of " New 

 Valhalla " will ever live green in my memory. 



In December we bade adieu to Lobengula, and 

 again started southwards, and journeying slowly 

 along, enjoying a little shooting here and there, 

 reached Bamano;wato towards the end of the month. 



