THE VELDT ON FIRE. 193 
another. A second Makalaka appeared later, but 
the moment the Matabele arrived, he came up to the 
waggons, and began interrogating us. On hearing 
that we were going to the Zambesi, he began to leap 
and dance about like a madman, brandishing a battle- 
axe. I thought it a case of temporary insanity, 
brought on by smoking ' dacha,' ^ but it appeared 
from his statement he had been sent from the king 
to the Makalakas, with a fresh order to stop waggons, 
and was now going on to Tati, to tell white men 
there the same tale. 
" I had difficulty in keeping the dogs from attack- 
ing him, and once he brought his battle-axe within a 
few inches of Stoffel's skull. He became quiet, how- 
ever, when Makabo (Manyami's son) ^ told him the 
facts of the case, and said I could go on, but my 
boys, who were subjects of the king, would be killed, 
and if I went on I had better pay them off here. I 
therefore decided on sending to the king, — first, to ask 
for further security for my boys, second, for leave to 
take Stoffel with me ; and decided to send off Man- 
yami's son, with two others, with a letter to the king 
and another to Thomson. 
" At night there was a tremendous conflagration 
raging close to us. It was a splendid sight, but 
made me a little nervous. However, it was princi- 
pally on the other side of the road, and died before 
it came quite close. The effect of the burning trees 
and long line of fire was very fine. One tree in 
^ A kind of hemp, much used for smoking by the natives. 
- The man appointed by the king. 
O 
