96 MATABELE LAND. 
for a cotton blanket and a shirt was killed this 
morning. It is wonderful what a lump of fat the 
tail is. A miserable little famished boy, who, they 
say, was picked up in the veldt and belongs to the 
king, came into the scherm on being invited, and had 
food. He speaks by nodding his head. He is a 
pitiable object, and coughs. . . . Wind rose high at 
night. Mutton and guinea-fowls' eggs for supper. 
There are plenty of * majachas ' here now. They 
are everlastingly dancing. This seems to be their 
.whole drill. 
" January A^th. — Cool cloudy morning ; a little 
drizzling rain. There are caterpillars here of many 
very pretty varieties. Old well-known forms both 
of caterpillars and moths are reproduced in this 
country, with a change. The king sent me a cater- 
pillar lately — green, with green moss-like horny 
tufts ; a flesh-coloured stripe on each side ; on the 
back a row of snow-white spots, circled with rich 
blue, and white spots also along the sides. A long 
string of people came this morning from Inchlangin 
for the dance. Macloule called on me soon after 
his arrival ; and again in the evening, when he asked 
me for a blanket, saying he had lost a child through 
going with me, and had missed the time for bury- 
ing it. I sent him away till to-morrow. The day 
has been cloudy and cool, but fair and delightful. 
" January ^th. — Hot day, and though there was 
a good deal of wind I felt the heat. Gave Macloule 
a cotton blanket. Myers and Hendrik working at 
my waggon sail. Took Hans, and went to king's. 
