CHAPTER I. 
Departure from England — St. Helena — Cape Town — Arrival at 
Durban — Pietermaritzburg— Start up country — Pretoria ; its 
Climate and Vegetation— The High Veldt — Dutch Boers— The 
Crocodile River — Bamangwato. 
On the 5th of March 1873, Frank Oates and his 
brother, W. E. Oates, sailed from Southampton for 
Natal on board the Union Company's steamship 
"African." It was the intention of the former, as 
already explained in the introduction to this volume, 
to make a journey to the Zambesi, and, if possible, 
push on thence to some of the unexplored country 
northwards. His brother contemplated a shorter 
trip in the same direction, which was to occupy 
about a year. 
The only land sighted, after leaving England and 
passing the Needles, were the islands of Porto Santo, 
Madeira, and Teneriffe, and one of the Canaries, 
besides Cape Verd on the African coast, until on 
March 25th the vessel reached St. Helena, where 
she touched and remained a few hours. The 
Iruit in the island at this time (including figs, 
bananas, and very fine peaches) was in perfection, 
whilst scarlet geraniums, fuchsias, and petunias — all 
