62 MATABELE LAND. 
His present effort, made in September, was the first 
of these ; his fourth and last attempt was made at 
the end of the succeeding year, nor was it till the 
last day of 1874 that he actually beheld the white 
spray of the great cataract breaking through the 
trees upon the river's bank. That effort truly was 
rewarded with success, yet a success how dearly 
purchased — with his life ! 
Before leaving Hope Fountain, to resume the 
journey, he wrote home the following letter to his 
mother : — 
" Mr. Thomson's, near Gubuleweyo, 
" September 25//;, 1873, 
" You will, no doubt, have more recent news 
from Willie than from me. I left him with Buckley 
and Gilchrist at the Tati, meditating a short jour- 
ney in the neighbourhood before leaving, and came 
on myself to the King's Town, Gubuleweyo, the 
site, or somewhere near the site, of the place marked 
in the maps as Mosilikatze's Town. Mosilikatze 
was the father of the present king, and conquered 
this country. The name of the nation is the Mata- 
bele, which is always shown in the maps. The for- 
mer inhabitants of the country were divided into 
various nations, but it is all called the Matabele 
country now from the name of its powerful owners. 
The country reaches to the Zambesi, and produces 
a great deal of ivory and ostrich feathers. There 
are a good many white men at Gubuleweyo, trading. 
Mr. Fairbairn, a young Scotchman, is my agent 
there. 
