L UDICR O US BREAKDO WN. i 1 9 



the front-board, and the waggon came to a stand- 

 still. The great awkward tree, stuck in by Jantje 1 

 and John when we first came to grief, had at last 

 become useless, and now we set about making our- 

 selves comfortable for the night, intending to cut a 

 fresh dissel-boom in the morning. It was about 8.20 

 when this ludicrous breakdown happened, and it is 

 long since I have so thoroughly enjoyed a laugh as 

 I did then at John's expense. I was not sorry that we 

 were stopping here, and, as I drank in the scene with 

 delight, those parks in the mountains of the Far West 

 were present to my mind, and I felt happy, scarcely 

 knowing why. The part of the country we have 

 passed through is called the 'nek.' To-night I 

 heard the strange melancholy baying of the wild 

 dog- — an animal I have never seen. 



"January 10th. — My pleasure in the place where 

 we are outspanned was put an end to this morning 

 by a crowd of noisy forward Matabele from a kraal 

 a little distance off amongst the kopjes on our right. 

 My men had sent early, and beer and large quanti- 

 ties of milk were brought. There were a few slaves 

 here too, quite different in appearance and bearing 

 from their conquerors. They are quiet and humble 

 in demeanour, and profusely ornamented, where they 

 can afford it, with brass-wire in rings round the 

 wrists, of what I have been told is Portuguese or 

 native workmanship, though I think it may be 

 brought up by our own traders. Blue cut beads, 

 too, and skins are much worn. These original in- 



1 A native temporarily engaged at Gubuluwayo. 



