1 86 MATABELE LAND. 
after sundown, as the country for miles round was 
on fire, and I wanted to get past the fire before we 
encamped for the night. I lay down with my head 
on a log, to await their arrival, and fell asleep. By 
and by I woke up, and found it was colder than 
agreeable, and at once guessed that they had stopped 
behind. I had to ride back a good way before I 
came to their fire, when I pitched into them. They 
had been afraid to come on after sundown, as the 
Matabele don't allow their subjects to travel by night, 
though of course a white man can do what he likes. 
" The next day Dorehill overtook me. He had 
set off the day after me, but without food or blankets, 
and was very glad to share mine. The following 
day we rode on to Gubuleweyo, the King's Town. 
The king seemed surprised to see me, but did not 
speak to me the first day I saw him, except to greet 
me, and send me to his sister to drink beer. The 
next day, when I told him what had occurred, he 
seemed rather amused than otherwise, and told me 
the Makalakas had been trying to frighten me, and 
that he had never sent them any order to stop wag- 
gons. I believe, however, he is the one to blame, 
and had probably neglected to send word to the 
Makalakas to let me pass. I had written to him 
from Tati for leave to go to the Zambesi, and he had 
given it, but could never have sent word about me 
to the Makalakas, who are his subjects, and very 
much given to stopping waggons that have not a 
special permit from him. He now gave me a Mata- 
bele boy, at my request, to accompany me. 
