FLOWERING SHRUBS. 89 
me, one of which is a great favourite of mine, and 
one pony. The time is approaching when horses 
that have not yet had it, get the horse-sickness, 
which it is a great chance they get over. A good 
* salted ' horse, or rather pony (that is one that has 
had the sickness and recovered from it), is worth 
^50 to ^100, instead of ^20. The king has been 
telHng people to ask me to sell him my pony, 
and he also wants a gun of mine, for which he has 
put aside two huge tusks of ivory, double its value. 
He has been inquiring very much for me, and is 
anxious to see me back. Tea is nearly ready, so I 
will now say good-bye. I am anxiously looking for- 
ward to getting letters in two or three months at 
latest. My letters are all to be forwarded to me 
and await me at Bamangwato." 
The day after writing this letter Frank Oates 
took his waggon on to Gubuleweyo, and once more 
drew it up in front of Mr. Fairbairn's scherm. 
The recent rains had wonderfully freshened the 
country since the outward journey, and the last trek, 
made through a green meadow-like district, recalled 
to the traveller's mind the aspect of the country 
round Oxford in early summer. 
The vegetation had of late been frequently re- 
markable for its beauty, and a number of flowering 
shrubs, many of them sweetly scented, had been 
observed from time to time. Flowers of other kinds 
were also becoming plentiful, and many varieties of 
wild fruit were met with. 
