FLOWERING SHRUBS. 89 



me, one of which is a great favourite of mine, and 

 one pony. The time is approaching when horses 

 that have not yet had it, get the horse-sickness, 

 which it is a great chance they get over. A good 

 ' salted ' horse, or rather pony (that is one that has 

 had the sickness and recovered from it), is worth 

 ^50 to ,£100, instead of ^20. The king has been 

 telling the people to ask me to sell him my pony, 

 and he also wants a gun of mine, for which he has 

 put aside two huge tusks of ivory, double its value. 

 He has been inquiring very much for me, and is 

 anxious to see me back. Tea is nearly ready, so I 

 will now say good-bye. I am anxiously looking for- 

 ward to getting letters in two or three months at 

 latest. My letters are all to be forwarded to me 

 and await me at Bamangwato." 



The day after writing this letter Frank Oates 

 took his waggon on to Gubuluwayo, and once more 

 drew it up in front of Mr. Fairbairn's scherm. 

 The recent rains had wonderfully freshened the 

 country since the outward journey, and the last trek, 

 made through a green meadow-like district, recalled 

 to the traveller's mind the aspect of the country 

 round Oxford in early summer. 



The vegetation had of late been frequently re- 

 markable for its beauty, and a number of flowering 

 shrubs, many of them sweetly scented, had been 

 observed from time to time. Flowers of other kinds 

 were also becoming plentiful, and many varieties of 

 wild fruit were met with. 



