302 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



the size of the rivers and the condition of the drifts. 

 A heavy flood on the Lnndi, Tokwe, or Wanetze 

 might cause a delay of many days in the journey. 

 The vicinity of the road to Fort Victoria has been 

 quite deserted by game and by lions ; we neither 

 heard these latter brutes at night nor any stories of 

 them. Our journey to Fort Victoria was without 

 incident. Three score waggons or more, laden with 

 meal and other supplies, were passed on their way 

 up to Fort Salisbury, and there could be no doubt 

 that this year ample provision of food of all kinds 

 for those who remain in the country during the 

 rainy season had been made by the company. 

 The large agricultural expedition conducted by 

 Mr. Van der Byl was met. All seemed in good 

 heart and order, though the sorrow had been 

 experienced of losing two of their number by 

 death. Good reports of the gold discoveries round 

 Fort Victoria abounded along the road, which 

 turned out to be somewhat fallacious. Four reefs 

 we found had been worked upon, two of which 

 had developed some quartz of a rich character. 

 Not enough work had been yet done on these to 

 determine whether they will turn out mines of 

 great value. The locality abounds in massive 

 outcrops of quartz, most of which rather reseinl)le 

 " blow outs " than regular reefs. Comparing this 

 district with others in northern Mashonaland, the 

 quartz here produced is considered to be of a 

 superior quality, and this district has Avhat is now 

 held to be an advantage, that of j)ossessing no 

 old workings. In the earlier days of the occupation 



