2 MATABELE LAND. 



growing wild — were in full bloom. Head winds, 

 after leaving St. Helena, considerably delayed the 

 vessel's progress, and Cape Town was only reached 

 on the 3d of April. Here passengers for Natal 

 were transferred from the " African " to a coasting 

 steamer, the " Zulu," which sailed five days later, and 

 reached Durban on the 19th of the month. The view 

 here across the bay was pretty enough, with ships 

 lying at anchor inside and out, and the lighthouse, 

 a marked feature on the green headland opposite. 

 The brothers left Durban for Pietermaritzburg to 

 prepare for their expedition into the interior soon 

 after landing, the journey, in a six-horse waggon, 

 occupying about twelve hours. The country passed 

 through was for the most part hilly, with very little 

 timber. Here and there some fields of Indian corn 

 ("mealies") were seen, and also some pretty bits of 

 mountain scenery with abrupt crags, but the land is 

 chiefly pasture, and the general aspect of the country 

 not unlike that of the American prairie. A number 

 of ox -waggons were met and passed upon the road. 

 Near Maritzburg a few trees were seen ; the approach 

 is pretty, and the place has an English air about it. 



At Maritzburg the brothers remained about three 

 weeks, making preparations for their journey north- 

 wards. Their plan was to go by the usual trade route 

 through the Transvaal, and then on to Shoshong, 

 the town of Sekhomi, chief of the Bamangwato, 

 from here either taking the direct route towards the 

 Zambesi by the Tati River, or making a circuit in 

 a north-westerly direction by way of Lake Ngami. 



