io6 MATABELE LAND. 
as it is not easy to hit the victim in the right place 
when he is in a state of excitement. I went to see 
the king, who was looking very sulky. There is 
no dancing to-day. It appears the king is very 
angry at the fighting of yesterday. 
" January i \th. — Heavy rain very early ; a little 
bright sunshine about breakfast -time, when I par- 
tially dried the things that had got wet in the tent, 
causing me considerable discomfort. It soon came 
on to rain again, however, and rained more or less 
during the day. I was to have taken my things 
out of Myers's store and packed the waggon, but the 
rain prevented me. In the morning I heard the 
king was inspanning to go to some neighbouring 
abode of royalty, and hurried to take him his horse. 
After handing it over to him, and being told to give 
it in charge of Petersen, I asked him if he would 
buy a saddle and bridle, to which he replied, these 
were always supposed to go with the horse, the 
saddle being part of its back. However, I hope he 
won't insist on this any more, and, indeed, I may go 
away without seeing him again, unless I do so 
voluntarily. Piet, who interpreted for me, told me 
that the king is very angry about the disturbance, 
and will probably kill a number ot the people, and 
for this they think he is going away in such a hurry. 
There were twelve black, or nearly black, bullocks 
in the royal waggon, and, when it started, the throne 
was carried — as it always has to be done — on a boy's 
head. It is a straight -backed, substantial, and 
extremely plain, green chair, with red daubs on it. 
