RIDE TO GUBULUWAYO. 183 



reluctantly commenced his journey back to Tati, 

 resolved to revisit the king and ascertain from his 

 own lips the real truth of the induna's statement. 

 The fine clear nights, during a part of which he now 

 made a point of trekking, were brilliant as he re- 

 turned with glittering stars and constellations, the 

 Southern Cross at this time conspicuous amongst 

 the latter a little after sunset. Four days after 

 starting he was back at the Tati settlement, and on 

 the 30th of June started on horseback to the king's 

 town, with eight boys to take his baggage. 



On reaching the king's, Lobengula tried to laugh 

 the matter off, and this time, as an assurance of good 

 faith, appointed one of his own people, a son of the 

 headman, Monyama, to see him safe through the 

 country of the Makalakas. Frank Oates was again 

 back at Tati on the 15th of July, and here, before 

 starting once more for the Zambesi, he made some 

 fresh plans and arrangements for the journey. What 

 these arrangements were may best be learned from 

 the ensuing letter, written at this time from Tati, and 

 containing, besides, some particulars of his recent 

 journey to Gubuluwayo. This letter is as follows : — 



" Tati, July 2\st, 1874. 



" I am, you see, at Tati once more. ... I left 

 here for the Zambesi on the 9th of June, and on the 

 1 8th — travelling very slowly, as I had lots of time 

 before me — reached the first Makalaka kraal on the 

 Zambesi road. Here I was stopped, being told 

 that the king had sent a special order to turn all 

 waggons back which might come that way. They 



