ARRIVAL AT GUBULUWAYO. 59 



women were carrying vessels of water on their heads 

 as we arrived. It was bitterly cold, and there 

 was both wind and rain. Fairbairn and a number 

 of others were standing about the kraal. Petersen 

 was there and introduced me. They asked me in, 

 and I drew up my waggon to Fairbairn's ' scherm,' 1 

 and had breakfast with them. Fairbairn and Peter- 

 sen took me to the king, whom I called on out of 

 compliment, telling him that I had not yet unpacked 

 my waggon — a hint that I should have a present 

 for him. He was very gracious, and placed meat 

 and plates before me, and inquired what sport I had 

 had coming up, noticing the dilapidated state of my 

 dress. I was going out of the hut legs first, when 

 he pulled me back and made me go head first. He 

 sent me to look at his new house, of which he is 

 very proud. It is being built of brick by an 

 Englishman. 



"In the afternoon Fairbairn and I rode over to 

 see Mr. Thomson, the missionary. He will act as in- 

 terpreter if I wish, but does not think it necessary. 

 As we returned at sundown we met a party of 

 natives. They were Umtegani's troop, returning 

 from an ' impi,' or raid, with cattle taken from the 

 Mashonas, a tribe not altogether subject to the king, 

 though a part of them are. Umtegani was in 

 European clothes and on horseback. They stopped 

 to go through the exercise of certain rites before 



1 A Dutch term applied to the small fold or enclosure made round a 

 hut or waggon, for shelter and protection, by means of branches rudely 

 placed in the ground. 



