2/8 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



tained from the little handsome Mashoona cattle I 

 never saw or ate. The people also were wonderfully 

 hospitable, and Kaffir and honey beer was given us 

 in such quantities that it was impossible to consume 

 it ; while the produce of the country could be 

 purchased at such trifling prices as really to be 

 laughable. 



With the valuable and all-powerful support which 

 we had, still there was a difficulty in obtaining 

 porters, and several days' delay took place in conse- 

 quence. Our own Zulus, to a man, stuck to us, and 

 their laudations, combined with the chief's power, 

 ultimately resulted in success, as we finally obtained 

 fifty-nine able-bodied bearers, so, with our own 

 people, at forty pounds to a load, I calculated that 

 we should be able to take out of the country about 

 two thousand five hundred pounds of ivory, which, 

 at six shillings a pound — the then current rate on 

 the East coast — would realise something over four 

 hundred pounds sterling. This was not more than 

 half of the valuable commodity that we had col- 

 lected, but for want of porters it was of necessity 

 left behind. With the gold that we had obtained, 

 however, we should be able to repay ourselves all 

 our outlay, and still leave a handsome profit to be 

 added to our credit. 



The veteran chief accompanied us two days 

 march, so our start for home was made under most 

 favourable circumstances, which continued till the sea- 



