START FOR THE ZAMBESI. 6i 
occasion at Gubuleweyo was chiefly occupied in 
obtaining information for the expedition, and making 
the necessary arrangements for it. The early part 
of the journey could be accomplished with the wag- 
gon and oxen ; after that it would be necessary to 
go on foot. 
On the evening of the 24th of September he ac- 
cordingly started with his waggon, remaining the 
night with Mr. Thomson, the missionary, at Hope 
Fountain, a short distance from the kraal. The 
night was very close, — the first which had been so, — 
and on the following evening, after they had trekked 
some miles from Mr. Thomson's in the direction of 
Inyati to the north-east, there was heavy rain and 
wind, accompanied by thunder and lightning. This 
rain, the first there had yet been, was said to be 
earlier than usual in its commencement by about 
two months. The other conditions, however, of the 
projected journey to the Zambesi, all of them, still 
appeared favourable. It was the traveller's long- 
cherished desire at least to reach the Zambesi, and 
see the Falls, if he found it inexpedient on the pre- 
sent occasion to cross the river and penetrate into 
the less known territory to the northward. But 
there were difficulties, not only of climate, but 
from the obstructiveness of native character, to 
be encountered, and endless was the opposition 
which he met with from the latter cause. Four 
distinct attempts did he niake at various times 
from this date to reach the river, and in each of 
the first three was he destined to disappointment. 
