156 MATABELE LAND. 
"It seems next to impossible to convert the 
natives here to Christianity, though a good many of 
them profess it. The worst of it is that when they 
get so far converted as to wear ' continuations,' they 
become incorrigible thieves and drunkards. I always 
infinitely prefer the raw unconverted heathen for my 
own use, and every one else that 1 know does the 
sarhe. I like extremely the three missionaries that 
I know, and believe them to be most excellent 
conscientious men. They believe the chief result of 
their labours is yet to come, and I hope they may 
be right." 
By the 24th of April, as already mentioned, all 
was ready for a start, and, leaving Bamangwato after 
sundown, a trek of two hours was accomplished that 
night. The following morning a like distance had 
been traversed, when the waggon was suddenly 
brought to a stand by one of the wheels giving 
way. It was fortunate, as it happened, they had not 
got further from the reach of help, and the broken 
wheel was at once taken back to Bamangwato. It 
was a tedious business, however, getting it repaired, — 
so slow are people's movements in this country, — but 
at last it was ready, and, some fresh oxen being 
purchased to strengthen the span, the journey was 
resumed early on the morning of May 5th. Before 
starting a couple of waggons arrived from Lake 
from a small stream up the gorge behind the town, 'some distance off, 
whence it is taken to the town in small vessels upon people's heads. 
In this gorge stand the church and mission station of the London 
Missionary Society, from which are seen a short way off the beehive- 
like huts of Shoshong on the plain ; see the woodcut at page 149. 
