24 MATABELE LAND. 



Starting again the ensuing evening, and continu- 

 ing their journey during the following day, they 

 arrived early on the morning of the 15th at the 

 Seruli River, where a water-pit, sunk in the dry 

 sandy bed of the river, was found for watering the 

 oxen. Here was a party of natives, living in the 

 bush, hunting. They were said to be Bushmen. 

 One of their number, who came to the waggon the 

 following day, looked very striking — a leopard-skin 

 thrown gracefully over his well -formed person, and 

 a necklace of large lavender beads round his neck. 

 Four days were spent by the brothers at the Seruli, 

 whence they proceeded on their journey on the 

 evening of the 19th, making a halt about midnight. 

 From this point Frank Oates's Journal takes up the 

 story for the next few days — till their arrival at the 

 Shashi on the 24th — as follows : — 



" Atigust noth. — Have coffee, and hear the mono- 

 tonous call of the night-hawk, as we rest and let the 

 cattle feed. Willie called my attention yesterday, at 

 close of day, to another (a clucking) note, which he 

 says proceeds from the hornbill. We have been 

 living, whilst at the Seruli, on ostrich-eggs. Fried 

 with a little meal is the best way we have had them, 

 or made into a pudding with maizena. They are 

 strong, unless nicely cooked. Started again at 2.30 

 a.m., and trekked for three hours. Horned moon 

 and bright morning star in the east ; horizon dark 

 against the sky, already glowing with the pale 

 orange of approaching morning, fading into the dark 

 violet of the upper firmament. Notes of birds are 



