210 MATABELE LAND. 



depth too must have been an affair of inches. Of 

 course this hole penetrated into the substance of the 

 brain, and probably for some distance. I dare say 

 a mouse could have sat in it. 



" His voice was weak, but he evidently enjoyed 

 his supper and the warmth of the fire. My boys 

 said he was a. 'wolf — the term applied to outlaws 

 — and that he ought to be killed or driven away. 

 He told me that it was five days since he had been 

 set upon ; and that, after he had been left for dead, 

 he got up and ran away on coming to himself. He 

 wanted to go under my protection to the Zambesi 

 — an honour however which I declined, but I gave 

 him a blanket and some things to buy food with, 

 and told him he must go next morning, and advised 

 him to make for Mungwato. He asked for a pipe 

 and for a drink of brandy, which reminded me of Old 

 King Cole ; and if he had been given to amusing 

 himself by listening to the violin, I have no doubt 

 he would have asked for a tune, as he seemed dis- 

 posed to take things very philosophically. I poured 

 some arnica and water into the hole, and when he 

 lifted up his head a perfect stream of it ran down 

 his back. He said if he was not killed he should 

 see me at Mungwato when I returned. I believe he 

 did reach Mungwato alive, but I don't know whether 

 he remained there. 1 



"A perfectly favourable communication having 



1 In June the following year this man was seen by Mr. Gilchrist — 

 whose journey into the interior is related in the concluding chapter 

 of this narrative — living near Rustenburg, in the Transvaal, apparently 

 in perfect health. 



