CHAPTER X. 



Third start for the Zambesi — Again stopped by natives — Fresh leave 

 from the king — The journey resumed — Frank Oates's companion 

 obliged to leave him — He goes forward alone — Breakdown of his 

 waggon — Annoyances from the natives — Help from Tati — Return 

 there — Letters home — Future plans. 



Leaving Tati on the evening of the 25th of July, on 

 his third attempt to reach the Zambesi, Frank Oates 

 halted for the night a few miles beyond the settle- 

 ment, completing the distance to the Ramakwebani 

 the following morning, where he was again un- 

 expectedly stopped by natives, professedly armed 

 with authority from Lobengula to stop all waggons 

 from advancing northwards. The story of this en- 

 counter is thus related in the Journal : — 



"July 2jtk. — Fine and oppressively hot, after a 

 cold night. The days are now very hot, though the 

 nights continue cold and frosty. I was going to 

 ride over to the Inkwisi to-day, with a letter from 

 Brown to Greite, and to see if Greite could let me 

 have one of his drivers. However, before I set off, 

 a Matabele came down the Zambesi road, bearing 

 a shield, and accompanied by a Makalaka, bearing 

 another. A second Makalaka appeared later, but 

 the moment the Matabele arrived, he came up to the 



