170 MATABELE LAND. 
going by Gubuleweyo — he would proceed pretty 
direct northwards, passing through the country of 
the Makalakas, who are subject to the Matabele, and 
hold the key to the Zambesi country by this approach. 
Before crossing the boundaries of these people, it is 
necessary for travellers to have first obtained per- 
mission from the king to proceed, and such a per- 
mission Frank Gates distinctly had ; yet, in spite of 
all remonstrances on his part, the Makalakas refused 
to let him pass, thinking, perhaps, to reap some 
profit from his discomfiture, or, it may be, that 
Lobengula would in reality be no worse pleased if 
he were stopped. Indeed the traveller did not 
himself entirely exonerate the king from blame, but 
suspected at one time he was playing a double game 
— on the one hand giving him leave to proceed 
to the Zambesi, whilst on the other purposely 
neglecting to send the needful instructions to his 
subjects to let him pass. The king was anxious to 
encourage a certain number of traders in his country, 
but may have looked with suspicion on one whose 
objects were less intelligible to him. 
At all events, be this as it may, it is perfectly 
certain that these Makalakas threw every possible 
obstacle in the way of his advance — and not once only, 
but each time he reached their boundaries — whilst 
several traders, going and coming, were permitted 
to proceed upon their journey, and the final fatal 
issue of his expedition to the Zambesi was practically 
the result of the behaviour of these people. It is 
true that other circumstances, irrespective of their 
