52 



MATABELE LAND. 



Two messengers were to be sent, and I wrote a note 

 to Fairbairn for oxen, and the boy was directed to 

 bring them back. 1 Monyama insisted on their being 

 paid beforehand, and intimated that they might not 

 carry out their message properly unless I paid them. 

 I was angry at their exorbitance, one demanding 



MONYAMA. 



monyama's ATTENDANT, 



two coils of wire ; to the other I gave half a bar of 

 lead. The old fellow hung about begging. Women 

 brought mealies and Kaffir corn. Milk and beer 

 were also brought, and I told them to bring Kaffir 

 corn meal next day, which they did, but were 

 very fanciful in their demands, one wanting beads, 

 another brass -wire, another a handkerchief, and 

 so on. I find they don't care for mirrors ; look at 



1 Mr. Fairbairn was agent at the king's town for a Mr. Cruick- 

 shank, with whom Frank Oates had had business dealings at 

 Bamanewato. 



