NATIVE IMPORTUNITY. 197 
most agreeable of occupations, as the following ex- 
tract from the Journal shows : — 
'' AiLgtist 20th. — Windy day; rather cloudy. 
The wind rose very much towards night. ... I am 
now lying in my waggon, glad to rest, wearied out 
principally with worry, and the dissatisfaction of find- 
ing time so miserably wasted as to-day has been ; 
packing, unpacking, stooping, watching lest things 
are stolen, and having one's patience tried in buying 
of the natives, putting up with their disagreeable 
presence and impudence, to say nothing of the 
annoyances one is subjected to by one's own servants. 
I had to knock the disgusting servant of Makabo off 
the dissel-boom before he would go. He was 
bothering me for a snuff-box, and would not go away 
for civil speaking. I am not patient or industrious 
enough for waggon life. To-day has been one of 
nothing but unpleasantness to me." 
At length, on the 23d, it became evident that 
Stoffel must return and seek advice from Mr. Thom- 
son, the missionary, who had some skill in surgery. 
This change of plan involved a corresponding change 
in all the arrangements of the journey, and such of 
Frank Oates's goods as had hitherto been carried in 
the trader's waggon had now to be taken in his own, 
already sufficiently loaded when they left the settle- 
ment. On the 24th Stoffel took his departure south- 
wards, and two days later Frank Oates went on alone 
towards the Zambesi. It was a lovely moonlight 
night when he resumed the journey, the waggon 
running heavy through thick mopani veldt. The 
