1 86 MATABELE LAND. 



after sundown, as the country for miles round was 

 on fire, and I wanted to get past the fire before we 

 encamped for the night. I lay down with my head 

 on a log, to await their arrival, and fell asleep. By 

 and by I woke up, and found it was colder than 

 agreeable, and at once guessed that they had stopped 

 behind. I had to ride back a good way before I 

 came to their fire, when I pitched into them. They 

 had been afraid to come on after sundown, as the 

 Matabele don't allow their subjects to travel by night, 

 though of course a white man can do what he likes. 

 " The next day Dorehill overtook me. He had 

 set off the day after me, but without food or blankets, 

 and was very glad to share mine. The following 

 day we rode on to Gubuluwayo, the king's town. 

 The king seemed surprised to see me, but did not 

 speak to me the first day I saw him, except to greet 

 me and send me to his sister to drink beer. The 

 next day, when I told him what had occurred, he 

 seemed rather amused than otherwise, and told me 

 the Makalakas had been trying to frighten me, and 

 that he had never sent them any order to stop 

 waggons. I believe, however, he is the one to blame, 

 and had probably neglected to send word to the 

 Makalakas to let me pass. I had written to him 

 from Tati for leave to go to the Zambesi, and he had 

 given it, but could never have sent word about me 

 to the Makalakas, who are his subjects, and very 

 much given to stopping waggons that have not a 

 special permit from him. He now gave me a Mata- 

 bele boy, at my request, to accompany me. 



