Old Workinc;s. 241 



actually growing in the old shafts, they are of 

 those soft-wooded and quick-growing varieties 

 which require but little time for development. 

 The country in the midst ol' which we now 

 found ourselves ^vas of quite a different character 

 to that previously traversed. From ]Mount Hamp- 

 den we had descended some 500 feet into the 

 valley of the Mazoe, and wooded hills and ridges, 

 grassy vleys, and clear running streams surrounded 

 us on every side. j^ ^^^^ 



'' Some of these hills afe of considerable height, 

 rising to as much as 1000 feet above the level 

 of the plain, but only in isolated instances was 

 any outcro}) of sedimentary rock visible, the 

 greater })ortion of them consisting of granite, 

 with but few volcanic intrusions. Round our 

 outsjoan several native kraals could be seen 

 perched upon the neighbouring crests, and I 

 believe it is not yet clearly understood whether 

 they select these steep and inconvenient homes 

 from the fear of MatalDele raids or upon the score 

 of health. I am rather inclined to take the last 

 supposition, as it is said that the Matabele have 

 not as yet penetrated to this part of the countrv, 

 and it would take a sharp experience to teach the 

 indolent ]\Iasliona that the laziest is not also the 

 best course. On our return to the wao-o-on we 

 found it surrounded by these natives, who had 

 brought mealies, milk, and Kaffir corn to barter 

 with. We were sadly in want of mealies for our 

 horses, as we had found great difficulty in obtain- 

 ing them at Fort Salisbury, but all our attempts 



