Signs of Civilization. 207 



eminences and hus-e o-ranite boulders, are rano-es 

 of low hills, among which, to the north, rises Mount 

 Hampden, conspicuous and solitary. In a walk 

 round the settlement the next day, I noticed 

 a hotel where was laid out a table cVhufc with 

 clean napkins ensconced in glasses on the table, 

 three auctioneers' offices, several stores, the hut 

 of a surgeon-dentist, another of a chemist, a third 

 of a solicitor, and last, but not least among the 

 many signs of civilization, a tolerably smart 

 perambulator. But the necessaries of life, whether 

 of food or raiment, ^vere luxuries at Fort Salisbury, 

 and costly in the extreme. Bread, meat, butter, 

 jam had risen to impossible prices. 



My first inquiries were naturally directed 

 towards ascertaining the extent and nature of the 

 gold discoveries. Little could be learnt. I knew 

 almost as much before leaving London on this 

 important matter as I did after a day j)assed at 

 Fort Salisbur)^ Three gold districts attracted the 

 prospector: — 1. Manica. — Of this district nothing 

 was then precisely known. Colonel Pennefather 

 and Mr. Selous, Avho had been there for some 

 weeks, were expected to be back at Fort Salisbury 

 in a few days, and we hoped then to learn some- 

 thing definite about this territory, which had been 

 the subject of so much wild rumour and of so 

 much bitter dispute. 2. The gold reefs on the 

 Mazoe River. — These lie about twenty-five to 

 thirty miles distant from Fort Salisbury in a north- 

 easterly direction. A great many prospectors had 

 been at work here, but all accounts of their dis- 



