56 
MATABELE LAND. 
detached kopjes in the distance. Passed several 
kraals, and went through mealie stubble - fields, 
fenced from the waggon-track 
by branches rudely stuck in the 
ground. A crowd of Kafirs, 
making a fearful noise, appear- 
ed, and accompanied the wag- 
gon to where we were going 
to outspan, so we went on a 
little further past the kraal. 
There was a perfect Babel. A 
few men came after us when we 
had halted — swarthy fellows, 
with splendid teeth. One had 
a fine leopard - skin he was 
anxious to sell ; others a wood- 
en dish, beans, Kafir corn, 
tobacco, and beer. The men's 
head-dresses were various and 
becoming. One man we passed 
had on a skull-cap of spotted 
tiger-cat skin, with feathers 
sticking out behind like eagles' 
or pauws'. Others wore round 
masses of feathers (one was of 
guinea-fowls') nearly as big as their heads, and one 
had a jackal's tail sticking straight up over his fore- 
head. They were not at all an unpleasant-looking 
or unfriendly set, though noisy and forward. 
''September i\th. — Fine bright morning; clear 
sky. Two hours' trekking brought us to Kumala 
FEATHER HEAD-DRESS. 
