i62 MATABELE LAND, 
small antelope occasionally showing themselves the 
whole time. In crossing the Motloutsi two lions 
were observed quite close to the waggons, and 
Frank Oates gave them chase, but, as related below 
in a letter referring to the events of this period, was 
thrown off the scent by the wiles of the Dutchman, Van 
Roozen, .who sought to avoid an encounter. The signs 
of animal life were rather more numerous on the 
Shashe River, where some fine water-holes were found 
in the sand, into one of which a crocodile had recently 
crawled, leaving the track of his tail behind him at 
the water's edge. Here pallah and other game spoor 
was abundant, and three or four large monkeys were 
observed crossing the river-bed. Birds too were 
numerous, including herons, kingfishers, and bustards. 
In the course of the journey one or two curious 
snakes were met with, one of which was of a fine 
silvery hue upon the back, and salmon-coloured 
beneath. Another, quite black, and of a very deadly 
kind, evinced a remarkable facility for swelling out 
its head to an enormous size when alarmed or angry. 
This snake had a habit, it was said, of hanging down 
from the trees like one of their branches and attack- 
ing such creatures as might pass beneath. 
On approaching Tati the traveller was struck 
with the fine autumnal tints of the trees, and 
observed ahead of him the picturesque range of 
hills towards the Ramaqueban. At Tati itself the 
grass was parched and yellow, and everything had 
already assumed its autumnal or winter garb. Here 
he was met on his arrival by Mr. Fairbairn from 
