2 MATABELE LAND. 
growing wild — were in full bloom. Head winds, 
after leaving St. Helena, considerably delayed the 
vessel's progress, and Cape Town was only reached 
on the 3cl of April. Here passengers for Natal 
were transferred from the " African " to a coasting 
steamer, the " Zulu," which sailed five days later, and 
reached Durban on the 19th of the month. The view 
here across the bay was pretty enough, with ships 
lying at anchor inside and out, and the lighthouse, 
a marked feature on the green headland opposite. 
The brothers left Durban for Pietermaritzburg to 
prepare for their expedition into the interior soon 
after landing, the journey, in a six-horse waggon, 
occupying about twelve hours. The country passed 
through was for the most part hilly, with very little 
timber. Here and there some fields of Indian corn 
{"mealies") were seen, and also some pretty bits of 
mountain scenery with abrupt crags, but the land is 
chiefly pasture, and the general aspect of the country 
not unlike that of the American prairie. A number 
of ox-waggons were met and passed upon the road. 
Near Maritzburg a few trees were seen; the approach 
is pretty, and the place has an English air about it. 
At Maritzburg the brothers remained about 
three weeks, making preparations for their journey 
northwards. Their plan was to go by the usual trade 
route through the Transvaal, and then on to Sho- 
shong, the town of Sekomi, chief of the Bamangwato, 
from here either taking the direct route towards the 
Zambesi by the Tati River, or making a circuit in a 
north-westerly direction by way of Lake Ngami. 
