A VETERAN SOLDIER. 26 1 



called " buffalo chips" in the United States. Some 

 of the corn-cobs were almost as long as those grown 

 in the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers ; 

 while the grain was plump, full, and abundant. The 

 melons, although large and an extremely beautiful 

 fruit to look at, had a strong astringent taste ; never- 

 theless, they were very refreshing. 



Both Sunday and Jim carried on a fluent conver- 

 sation with some of these people, for being vassals 

 of the Matabeles, they had picked up the tongue of 

 their Suzerain, when on their annual visits to his 

 capital to pay their yearly taxes. 



Quite a touching little episode occurred here : 

 among the strangers was an old man, a sort of petty 

 chief, no doubt stationed among the Mashoonas as 

 a spy upon their actions. In his youth he had left 

 Zulu Land in the train of the dreaded Mosulakatze, 

 and had passed through all the wars waged by that 

 great warrior against Bechuanas, Mokalolos, Maka- 

 lakas, Massarahs, and Mashoonas, and now he was 

 spending his well-earned rest among these interest- 

 ing people. A few words that Sunday said caused 

 the veteran to recognise his nationality, when 

 there ensued such congratulations, compliments, and 

 enquiries as almost became nauseating to a spectator. 

 The old man's delight was unbounded ; to get news 

 direct from the land of his birth, to hear of relatives 

 still living, was a pleasure far over anything that he 

 had ever anticipated. That night the old chief, 



