THE GOKWE RIVER. 25 
What a loss not to be able to appreciate beauti- 
ful things, as must be the case with our men, and 
how much less they affect me even than they used 
to do, when I seemed to find the world more full 
of hope and high ends to be attained than it looks 
now. 
" Inspanned again about 8, and crossed the dry 
bed of a large stream, which continued to keep near 
the road on the right. It was full of sand, with 
plenty of bush and trees about it. Francolins 
abundant, also hornbills, and many other birds in 
numbers, so I think there must be water somewhere 
in it, or very near. Reached the Gokwe about 
noon, having gone nine miles. The trek was a slow 
one, and part of it being when the sun was getting 
high, the oxen were tired. Found good francolin 
shooting where we passed the last spur of the range 
along the river, and where we outspanned ; sand- 
grouse coming to drink in the evening at the latter 
place. There was fresh giraffe spoor where we 
crossed the * spruit ' ^ by the kopjes, and further on 
fresh lion spoor. . . . The people at the Gokwe 
are a sort of outcast race under the Basutos, called 
Bushmen. Men, women, and children came to 
the waggon. They have fine pack-oxen. They 
live in the bush, Hendrik says, having a sort of 
temporary abode near the bed of the river to the 
left of the road. They were ornamented with 
beads, and had on necklaces of blue cut ones and 
skins. They always ask for tobacco, making signs 
^ Small stream. 
