204 MATABELE LAND. 
amendment, that they could ''do without it.' Now, 
I think, to a certain extent, I deserved it for my 
persistent efforts to attain it, and may hope to march 
out with the honours of war, and ' do without it.' 
" I can scarcely express the pleasure it gave me 
to receive, on returning here, a large packet of letters 
bearing dates from the 4th of August 1873, to the 
25 th of April 1874; some to Willie and some to 
myself, and some which Willie had written to me on 
his way home. I suppose he had read, and sent on 
for my perusal, those of the letters which are 
addressed to him. The letters seem to form a con- 
nected series, and I doubt whether any have failed 
to reach me. After hastily looking over a few of 
them I proceeded to arrange them according to date, 
and then to read them through in order. I scarcely 
hoped that there would be no bad news. . . . Skel- 
ton's death must be a terrible blow to his family, 
who, when I saw them last, were looking forward to 
a visit from him. It seems only the other day he 
was at Oxford distinguishing himself in the athletic 
sports, in which he was generally a successful com- 
petitor. I believe every one liked him, and that he 
was worthy of their high opinion.^ 
" To-day waggons have arrived from Bamangwato, 
and, to my great joy, another letter was fished up for 
me from the bag. Hathorn writes from Maritzburg 
on the 4th of August, enclosing a letter from Willie, 
1 This refers to the late Mr. Henry Skelton, formerly of Wadham 
College, Oxford, who died in Borneo, in the service of the late Rajah 
Brooke, soon after his appointment as Resident of Sarawak. 
