2 48 MATABELE LAND. 
was, and we shot it. Two others ran away, and my 
dogs killed both of them gallantly, and in next to 
no time. They were cheetahs, a sort of leopard, 
very lanky, and a good deal like greyhounds in ap- 
pearance. They were very thin, and probably very 
hungry when they killed the goat ; but the other 
goat must have kept them from eating it, as it had 
been killed a considerable time when we got to it. 
" I must now get up and make ready to start. I 
am writing in the tent, having had a cup of coffee as 
usual, but not got up yet. I intended to have 
written this letter last night, and, having failed to do 
so, thought it best to make sure of its being written 
before I began anything else. 
" I hope you are all spending a pleasant Christmas 
and New Year's time at home, or wherever you are ; 
and wish every one a very happy New Year." 
Starting upon their journey late that evening, the 
Journal resumes the narrative : — 
^'December 2'jtk.- — Fine hot day, with a north- 
easterly breeze. Wrote letter home early, and made 
final preparations for the w^alk. As my own boys 
had all requested to accompany me, wishing to see 
' Metse-a-tunya,' I took all (eight in number) except 
the Bushman, whom, with two Makalakas engaged 
for me at Pantamatenka by the doctor, I left with 
Klaas. The doctor had also got me another Maka- 
laka, whom he handed over to me, as well as allow- 
ing me to pack one of his own three boys ; so I had 
the benefit of ten, the doctor had two, and John had 
three boys. We were a party, in all, of two white 
