2 62 MATABELE LAND. 
be in a place of comparative civilization, affording 
greater comfort for an invalid, and in a far better 
climate. Travelling is also usually found to be bene- 
ficial in most stages of this fever. They were, there- 
fore, all now pushing forward to the Tati with the 
least possible delay. 
On the morning of the 5th of February, as just 
stated, Frank Oates's condition was much more 
favourable, and there may still presumably have 
been hope of his recovery, when, unfortunately, a 
point being reached during the day where some of 
his boys had to be paid off and discharged, the an- 
noyance and excitement contingent on this circum- 
stance — for at such times the boys always manage 
to be troublesome — brought on a relapse, and to- 
wards the afternoon of that day he again got worse. 
The party, as it chanced, were then in a part of the 
country where there was no water for the oxen, and 
were travelling with all haste to reach a place where 
they could get some ; yet so alarming were Frank 
Oates's symptoms, that towards evening Dr. Brad- 
shaw, who was with his waggon, was obliged to 
order a halt. This occurred at a certain point in the 
journey, a little north of the same Makalaka kraal at 
which the traveller had already experienced so much 
trouble. He was now much exhausted, and Dr. 
Bradshaw got him to take some soup and a little 
brandy, and then left him for a few minutes to go to 
the other waggon. He had not been gone, however, 
many minutes, when Mr. Westbeach's English-speak- 
ing boy, who had been left in charge, hurried after him, 
