3io Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



river and Fort Tuli a well-filled and well-served 

 " wink el " told us that we had re-entered regions 

 of comparative civilization. In spite of the heat, 

 now very great, and of the fatigued condition of 

 our animals, we pressed on, impatient again to 

 reach Fort Tuli, and also to accomplish a " best on 

 record " in the way of a trek. This latter feat we 

 did easily, and it will he long before any traveller 

 compasses the distance between Forts Tuli and 

 Victoria (197 miles) in a shorter or in as short a 

 period as five days and a half, the time occupied 

 by us. 



Getting to Fort Tuli seemed like coming home 

 ao-ain. The trek into and about Mashonaland, to 

 Avhicli, on the 14th July, Avdien leaving Tuli, I had 

 looked forward with much hope and some anxiety, 

 had been done. The truth about the country 

 from many points of view had been fairly ascei- 

 tained. AVonderful good fortune had attended us. 

 Hardly a moment of misfortune or real trouble. 

 Not a sino-le moment of sickness or ill-health had 

 been experienced by any of oui* large party. Day 

 after day had glided by smoothly and 23leasantly, 

 the gipsy kind of camp life had become very 

 fascinating, and we had had, Avhat Avith sjDort and 

 mining explorations, many hours full of pleasur- 

 able excitement. Nevertheless, this fact stamped 

 itself somewhat disappointingly and sourly on my 

 mind, that the great gold mine had not been dis- 

 covered either by ourselves or by any other of the 

 numerous exploring parties, and that the existence 

 of any great gold mine in Mashonaland Avas still 



