ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE JOURNEY. 65 



the Falls as quickly as I had hoped, I shall very 

 likely turn back without accomplishing my object, 

 as I am desirous not to run any foolish risks, and 

 have been at great pains in collecting all possible 

 information. 



" The men who carry my things will be most 

 of them of the conquered population, and the two 

 guides appointed by the king (one of whom, as I 

 have mentioned, left me this morning to go on in 

 advance, the other being now at Inyati) are able to 

 do what they like. No one dare oppose the king, 

 and the Matabele men he gives me render any fear 

 of desertion or disobedience superfluous. Besides, 

 these two men know that they must carry out the 

 king's orders to the letter. I have also got an 

 interpreter, a man who speaks English and Kaffir 

 perfectly, my own servant Hendrik, and my driver 

 and his boy. 1 I shall take my tent if possible, plenty 

 of ground-sheets and bedding, meal, tins of biscuits, 

 and coffee. For meat we have to rely on the guns 

 carried by the party, but there seems not the slight- 

 est fear of scarcity ; in fact the bearers are expected 

 to live entirely on meat, having guns and ammuni- 

 tion allowed them for the purpose. No beast of 

 burden or dog can accompany us, as it is the tsetse- 

 fly country. 



" Had it been earlier in the season, I should 

 have gone from the Tati, by which route you can 

 take your waggon to within a few miles of the Falls, 



1 The interpreter here spoken of was a native from Graham's 

 Town, who remained with Frank Oates till July the following year. 



F 



