156 MATABELE LAND. 



"It seems next to impossible to convert the 

 natives here to Christianity, though a good many of 

 them profess it. The worst, of it is that, when they 

 get so far converted as to wear 'continuations,' they 

 become incorrigible thieves and drunkards. I always 

 infinitely prefer the raw unconverted heathen for my 

 own use, and every one else that I know does the 

 same. I like extremely the three missionaries that 

 I know, and believe them to be most excellent 

 conscientious men. They believe the chief result of 

 their labours is yet to come, and I hope they may 

 be right." 



By the 24th of April, as already mentioned, all was 

 ready for a start, and Bamangwato was left shortly 

 after sundown. A trek of about five miles was 

 accomplished that night, and the following morning 

 a like distance had been traversed, when the waggon 

 was suddenly brought to a stand by one of the 

 wheels giving way. It was fortunate, as it happened, 

 they had not got farther from the reach of help, and 

 the broken wheel was at once taken back to Bamang- 

 wato. It was a tedious business, however, getting it 

 repaired, — so slow are people's movements in this 

 country, — but at last it was ready, and some fresh oxen 

 being purchased to strengthen the span the journey 

 was resumed early on the morning of May 5th. 

 Before starting a couple of waggons arrived from 



from a small stream up the gorge behind the town, some distance off, 

 whence it is taken to the town in small vessels upon people's heads. 

 In this gorge stand the church and mission -station of the London 

 Missionary Society, from which are seen a short way off the beehive- 

 like huts of Shoshong on the plain ; see the woodcut at page 149. 



