1 68 MATABELE LAND. 



man who works at the mine came up, and I told him 

 the case. He knew the Kaffirs, and at once ordered 

 them off, giving one of them a good slap on the 

 side of the head, which upset him. Then they all 

 jumped to their feet and brandished their knob- 

 kerries. I threw off my coat, and my ally and I . 

 stood ready and waited for the first blow to be struck, 

 whilst Van Rooyen stood afar off. This attitude 

 decided the Kaffirs not to risk a fight, and they said 

 they would go with me to Brown and talk the matter 

 over. We went accordingly, and Brown told them 

 if they wanted to do so to take the case before the 

 king, and they soon subsided and slunk away. I 

 might have had the greatest possible annoyance if it 

 had not been for the plucky conduct of Dobie from 

 the mine. 



" Fairbairn's waggon was stopped when he came 

 here by some Matabele, and he gave them some 

 goods, but vowed he would complain to the king and 

 get them into trouble. I suppose these three Kaffirs 

 thought they too could get something. The king I 

 believe would kill them if he knew. There are of 

 course no prisons ; and when any of his subjects 

 go too far they get put to death and thrown out 

 to the hyaenas. He is an excellent friend to the 

 white men here, and his people live in fear and 

 trembling of their lives. Since I was at the royal 

 residence, I am told he has killed some dozen of the 

 leading men of the country for making suggestions 

 to him. ' I must show them,' said he, ' who is king,' 

 — and he showed them. 



