268 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



Sunday acting as interpreter, when our present and 

 future steps were discussed. Dillon had already ob- 

 tained a considerable quantity of gold through the in- 

 strumentality of the Manica Governor ; but more was 

 promised, particularly when we informed him that 

 we would sell — with a suitable amount of ammuni- 

 tion — the three remaining spare guns. Further, that 

 the two we retained should be returned to them by the 

 porters they lent us to take our ivory to the port of 

 embarkation as soon as we had completed our 

 arrangements to leave the country. 



It now became a serious and very important 

 question which way we should select for the final 

 part of our land journey. There were five courses 

 open : first, return as we had come ; secondly, pro- 

 ceed to Zumbo, and there take boat down the 

 Zambesi ; thirdly, go to Tete, and there embark 

 upon the last-mentioned river ; or to Senna, on the 

 Zambesi, but nearer to the sea-board, and bearing 

 from Manica about N.E. ; and last of all, march 

 nearly due E. to the petty seaport of Sofala, from 

 whence it was probable we should be able to obtain 

 passage for Reunion or Mauritius. 



This last course was decided upon, for the 

 reason that the distance was shorter, and that we 

 were unlikely to meet any obstruction on the way 

 from marauding bands of soldiers and hostile kraals ; 

 while Zumbo, we were informed, had been destroyed 

 by order of the Matabele King, Tete had been 



