CHAPTER VII. 



Hunting trip on the Semokwe — A native musician — Gigantic baobabs 

 — Return to Tati — Journey to Bamangwato — The Bamangwato 

 and Matabele nations — Fighting amongst the natives — Start 

 back for Tati — Misadventures and delays — Fresh arrangements. 



On reaching Tati, Frank Oates found that a hunting 

 party was just about to start thence for the Semokwe, 

 and being asked to join them he arranged to do so 

 before going on to Bamangwato. The following is 

 an extract from his Journal of this date (February 

 23d), after his arrival at the settlement : — 



"Tati," he writes, "presented on our arrival a 

 very pretty and lively appearance. I like it better 

 than any place I know of, to stand at. Here are no 

 crowds of rude people to come round the waggon. 

 All is green, and numerous little well-built houses 

 dot the ground ; of course I mean well-built for the 

 interior of South Africa, but it is rough work enough 

 nevertheless. There are the three waggons of the 

 Gardens, two English brothers hunting in the country, 

 and the waggon of Mr. Thomson, on his way with 

 his wife and children to a missionary meeting at 

 Kuruman. There is Nelsson's waggon, who is going 

 away for a time and possibly will visit England. 



