A Breath from the Veldt 



115 



a fish-belly white ; the Matabele are as usual on the war-path ; Magato is 

 going to bag every waggon on the road ; the Limpopo is still impassable, 

 and (of all the yarns most lovely) the B. S. A. Police have orders to catch 

 all Dutchmen going into Mashonaland to shoot big game, and put them in 

 a large tronk (prison) specially constructed at the Middle Drift for their 

 reception. When I found they really believed this, I must say I roarjcd with 

 laughter ; for a Dutchman, though anxious to convey the idea that he is 

 supremely smart, is in reality the most gullible creature under the sun. 





MF 



AS-*-' .' ^* 



^ I HiJL " III?" ^-^ ' * " ^ "A ' ii-ip'w 





I will not bore my readers with all the worries I had to put up with from 

 this date until I had reached the Limpopo ; suffice it to say that as we pro- 

 ceeded northward it was only by arguments again and again repeated that I 

 could keep them going at all. I must confess I got very sick of their eternal 

 whines and fears, for all seemed resolutely set against my plans, except the 

 old man, who I knew could with difficulty maintain his authority in his own 

 waggons. 



We have now got fairly away from civilisation, and hear the native drums 

 going all night. To-day we pass near Magato's stronghold, which is situated 

 about four miles oif the track, on the highest point of the Zoutpansberg. 



