202 MATABELE LAND. 
would go and return with it, not following strange 
waggons. She would follow Nelson when he rode 
to the ' Blue Jacket,' ^ wait for him, and return 
home with him. Latterly she got into the habit 
of going with the oxen when they went into the 
veldt, would start with them, remain all day, and 
return at night with them, marching in front. She 
would even join wild guinea-fowl, if she came across 
them in the veldt, and would leave them as soon 
as she found she was getting too far from the 
waggon or person she was with at the time. She is 
supposed to have been killed at last by a nigger by 
mistake. Brown had had her eight or ten months." 
With these extracts the present period of the 
traveller's wanderings, so far as his Journal is con- 
cerned, may be allowed to terminate. The weather, 
which had up to this time continued cool at night, 
began towards the end of September to be intensely 
hot and oppressive, though still liable to considerable 
variation ; so much so indeed that one day about the 
middle of October the extreme cold brought the 
swallows into the houses for shelter and protection. 
The Zambesi now abandoned, Frank Oates, on 
the 8th of October, sent two boys with a message to 
the king, asking for leave to hunt a few weeks on 
the Shashani, which was readily accorded him ; but 
he did not start immediately — his waggon required 
some repairs, and he was not feeling well. Whilst 
thus waiting a while longer, to recruit his health and 
complete his preparations, two gentlemen — Messrs. 
^ A mine near Tati. 
