MOONLIGHT TREKS. 125 



" From here I intend travelling leisurely to 

 Mungwato, where I hope to find letters. When I 

 get there I shall decide whether or not to make 

 another attempt on the Victoria Falls. By leaving 

 Mungwato about April I should have the fine 

 season before me, and could probably reach the 

 Falls and return to Mungwato in the space of three 

 months. The worst of this country, however, is 

 that movements here are so slow and dependent 

 on the caprice of natives, and one is too much cut 

 off from the world. Yet I believe the Zambesi 

 would repay one for much sacrifice of time and 

 patience. It is impossible, I am now convinced, 

 to get on with Kaffirs and Hottentots without 

 severity. Kindness is thrown away upon them, 

 and makes them worse than they are. I believe I 

 shall have to give the latter method up altogether, 

 and resort to castigation, which is an alternative I 

 don't like. They are, almost to a man, dishonest, 

 lazy, and impudent. 



" The scenery about here is pretty I admit, 

 especially at this time of year. Some of my moon- 

 light treks between the king's and this place 

 were very delightful, and wakened a little enthu- 

 siasm and thoughts of former days, such as the 

 usual dull uniformity of South African scenery fails 

 to elicit. The ground is broken up into rugged 

 crags, piled one upon another in such a manner that 

 you can't help wondering how the mischief they ever 

 got there. The veldt is covered with long grass, 

 like English mowing grass. The trees are, for the 



