PORTUGUESE TABOOED. 263 



almost haunted me. And fortune favoured me while 

 here : quills of gold were being constantly brought 

 me, and the demands of the owners for the transfer 

 of their possession were the reverse of exorbitant. 



The two-grooved rifle which I so much disliked 

 attracted the old warrior's attention, doubtless, from 

 its being so much ornamented. This resulted in his 

 asking Sunday if I would sell it ; of course I would, 

 and be delighted to get rid of the beastly weapon at 

 any price compatible with its worth in this distant 

 country. As this intelligence was communicated to 

 me, I was filling my three-pound shot pouch, so I 

 responded : "If the old man will fill that with gold, 

 he shall have the rifle." I may almost say this was 

 said jocularly, and I thought nothing more of the 

 matter ; but in two days the veteran hero asked me 

 to fulfil my promise, and the shot pouch was filled 

 to repletion. 



At this time I had a note from Dillon. This is 

 what a portion of it stated : 



" I fear we shall have difficulty in taking our 

 ivory out of the country, as the Portuguese are 

 tabooed in every direction. I have bought a con- 

 siderable quantity of gold, and start nearly due west 

 to Manica to-morrow. This province is peopled with 

 an offshoot of the Matabeles, and are subservient to 

 them, so are consequently Zulus. My own people 

 assure me that there is no danger in the under- 

 taking. If you have left the old camp when you 



