142 MATABELE LAND. 
returned to the royal residence, and asked the king 
to let me go back to the same place. He was very 
crusty, and asked if I wanted to die. I told him I 
would take my chance, for I did not think there was 
the least danger then. It is when the rains cease 
and the rank vegetation rots beneath the sun that it 
is so bad, and that is not till March in most parts, I 
believe, though earlier on the Zambesi. However, 
he said, if I wanted to die, why could I not die 
somewhere else, and not in his country, and made 
so many difficulties I had to give it up. I then had 
so many delays — bad weather, and one thing or 
another — that I waited till the big dance was over, 
which is quite a thing to see when one is here. 
" After this I had difficulties with my men, and 
had to part with Hendrik, Dick, and Jacob, all of 
whom you will remember. About Dick's dismissal 
I had to wait a week or more, as the case had to be 
tried before the king, and Jacob was finally handed 
over to the tender mercies of Dick. Hendrik I dis- 
missed for refusing to cut some bushes, to make a 
fence round my waggon to keep the niggers out. 
This he con iidered * slavish work,' and preferred dis- 
missal to demeaning himself. Then the king would 
insist on buying my little horse, still well when I left 
in January, and got the saddle and bridle for nothing. 
" Since then I have been coming slowly from the 
King's. I have been hunting, and have Lee's brother 
to drive for me now, and take me to Mungwato. 
Here I have fallen in with Captain Garden and his 
brother, and am joining them and some others for 
