i8o MATABELE LAND. 
Makalakas here. I was surprised to hear from him 
that there are many Bushmen Hving in kraals and 
not wandering in the bush, as I had an idea they 
were exclusively a gipsy race, but it appears by no 
means so universally. The induna is an old Maka- 
laka, who does not talk the Matabele language, but 
as it was not till the day after our arrival that I saw 
him, I will leave him for the present. 
" Presently an individual arrived in white men's 
clothes, who spoke a little Dutch. Without cere- 
mony he jumped up on my waggon-box, and I con- 
cluded he was the induna from his free and easy 
style. I begged him to excuse me, as I was very 
busy buying corn, after he had asked John a question 
or two, as, ' Was I going to the Zambesi ?' I never 
thought I was to be stopped, and went on buying 
corn, and he seemed glad to let me do so, till at last 
he came to his final interview — for much of the time 
he had been with Van Roozen. He then told me 
that the king had sent to stop all waggons from 
coming on, on account of the sickness, but the induna 
himself would be here the following morning. My 
feelings this evening were ones of intense disappoint- 
ment, but still I hoped something from my interview 
with the induna the next day. 
'■'June i()tk. — Very cloudy day, after a mild 
night ; inclined to rain. The induna and a large 
crowd here early. I took down the substance of the 
induna's words. They were thoroughly confirmatory 
of my worst fears. He said though they here would 
not stop me by main force, the kraals ahead would 
