262 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



with all my Zulus around him, sat from sunset till 

 dawn, never for a moment permitting their tongues 

 to rest. Thank goodness we had plenty of excellent 

 meat in camp, and my henchmen did the duty of 

 hosts in a right royal manner. Several times I went 

 over to their fire to have a look at the happy party ; 

 all their faces beamed with good fellowship and the 

 enjoyment of good cheer. Even under these cir- 

 cumstances, when remissness in attention to me 

 would have been pardonable, Sunday never neg- 

 lected his " Bass ;" in fact I think he took a delight 

 in showing me off and singing my praises. The 

 old chief even called me ricose, the hightest saluta- 

 tion that they can bestow on a superior whom they 

 respect. Happiness, I think, is infectious, for that 

 evening I felt once more light hearted and far better 

 than I have done since the death of Selwin. Gold 

 I purchased here in one transaction to the amount 

 of a pound in weight ; a very old coat and brilliant 

 colored shirt being the price I paid for it. 



The old Matabele chieftain is, what you would 

 call in our language, " a thorough good sort," and 

 the favourable report that has been given of me by his 

 countrymen has made him more than a friend; in fact, 

 a person who would go any length — unless sacrificing 

 his loyalty — to serve me. Too old to accompany 

 me when shooting ; lost time from my society he 

 would make up for, by seldom letting me out of his 

 sight when in camp ; in fact, I may say that he 



