30 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



their shoulders, otherwise they were completely 

 naked, if we except a few wild cat tails hanging 

 from the waist, both before and behind, and feathers 

 as head-dresses. Filthy is scarcely a name suffi- 

 ciently strong for their condition, and they stank like 

 skunks. Their arms were assegais of the lightest 

 construction and heavy throwing sticks. Sunday 

 did not know what people they belonged to, although 

 he comprehended a good many words of their 

 language. My belief then was that they were rene- 

 gades from the Makalaca tribe, who had wandered 

 thus far east to escape the control of the Matabeles. 

 From their advent I had resolved that they should 

 not be admitted into the camp. This they evidently 

 did not like, nor did they hesitate to show their dis- 

 approbation of our want of hospitality. First they 

 commenced by begging for food. This they re- 

 ceived ; then for tobacco, snuff — in fact, anything 

 they could think of, not forgetting wire and beads. 

 Our boys, at our request, explained to them that in 

 return for ivory they would receive many presents ; 

 but this did not suit our visitors' views, and they 

 became insolent. At length their chief attempted 

 to make a passage into the kraal by dragging away 

 some of the thorn bushes that composed the fence of 

 the enclosure. Our remonstrances at his presump- 

 tion he treated with contempt, so, if we did not 

 assert ourselves, and that promptly, we would have 

 the dirty wretches in our midst. 



