248 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



from Fort Victoria left my service this evening 

 without notice. I learnt afterwards that another 

 of the trio who had remained with C'aptain 

 Williams also bolted the same evening. These 

 two were brothers, and had evidently made 

 arrangements to depart simultaneously. They 

 M^ere Aery foolish, for they had been kindly treated, 

 well fed, and their work had been light, and by 

 bolting thus they lost the l)lankets which they 

 Avould shortly have received as their wages, which 

 are so dearly prized by the Mashona. However, 

 they carried off with them some clothes ^'hich Ave 

 had bought for them, and a fair quantity of " bil- 

 tong." All opinions concur as to the utter A\'ortli- 

 lessness of the Mashona as labourers or as servants. 

 They rarely stay more than a fortnight "with any 

 one person, and almost always bolt slioidd any 

 blankets or clothin"- l)e o-i\en them. One of the 

 trio, " Tiriki " b}- name, alone remained faithful. 

 I had a conversation with him the first evening- 

 out fi-om Fort Salisbury, Hans Lee acting as inter- 

 preter. He told me he was not related to the two 

 defaulters, and that he Avas rather glad they had 

 gone, as they tAvo, being brothers, had conspired 

 to put all the Avork upon him. I did not person- 

 ally perceive Iioav their departiu'c Avould lighten 

 his labours. He also told me that he Avas A-ery 

 anxious to get married, as, if he Avere lucky, his 

 A\qfe might have daughters Avhoni he an'ouUI be able 

 to sell in exchange for goats. It seems that in 

 j\Iaslionaland boys are perfectl}' Avorthless articles. 

 I asked him Iioav much it AVould cost to bu)' a A^'ife, 



