266 MATABELE LAND. 
— letters were brought to them on board from Frank 
Oates, which had only just reached the country, 
giving a full account of all his plans, and of his 
wanderings up to the end of the October previous. 
The two friends reached Durban on the '15th of 
March, and at once commenced preparations for 
proceeding up country to meet the returning tra- 
veller. Mr. Selous, who had met Frank Oates at 
Tamasancha, as mentioned in the previous chapter, 
had now come down from the interior, and re- 
ported having seen him early in December, then 
on his way to the Zambesi and in perfect health. 
There was indeed just at this time, as it happened, 
a report at Pietermaritzburg that the traveller had 
died of fever in the interior, but — as subsequently 
proved by a comparison of dates — this report had 
certainly no foundation in the actual fact, and was 
found on enquiry at the time to be unsupported by 
any reliable evidence. The preparations already in 
progress for a speedy start into the interior, to meet 
him on his way back, were therefore still proceeded 
with, and waggons, oxen, and all the necessary out- 
fit got ready for the purpose. 
Another week and William Oates and his friend 
would have started on their way northwards, when 
— on the ist of April, a fortnight only after their 
arrival — authentic intelligence reached them of Frank 
Oates's death in the interior. The object of pro- 
ceeding on the journey was now therefore completely 
changed, and, to enable William Oates to return at 
once to England and there offer to his bereaved 
