THE GOKWE RIVER. 25 



heard. What a loss not to be able to appreciate 

 beautiful things, as must be the case with our men, 

 and how much less they affect me even than they 

 used to do, when I seemed to find the world more 

 full of hope and high ends to be attained than it 

 looks now. 



" Inspanned again about 8, and crossed the dry 

 bed of a large stream, which continued to keep near 

 the road on the right. It was full of sand, with 

 plenty of bush and trees about it. Francolins 

 abundant, also hornbills, and many other birds in 

 numbers, so I think there must be water somewhere 

 in it or very near. Reached the Gokwe about 

 noon, having gone nine miles. The trek was a slow 

 one, and part of it being when the sun was getting 

 high the oxen were tired. Found good francolin 

 shooting where we passed the last spur of the range 

 along the river, and where we outspanned ; sand- 

 grouse coming to drink in the evening at the latter 

 place. There was fresh giraffe -spoor where we 

 crossed the ' spruit ' l by the kopjes, and farther on 

 fresh lion -spoor. . . . The people at the Gokwe 

 are a sort of outcast race under the Basutos, called 

 Bushmen. Men, women, and children came to 

 the waggon. They have fine pack-oxen. They 

 live in the bush, Hendrik says, having a sort of 

 temporary abode near the bed of the river to the 

 left of the road. They were ornamented with 

 beads, and had on necklaces of blue cut ones and 

 skins. They always ask for tobacco, making signs 



1 Small stream. 



