218 MATABELE LAND. 



enjoyed anything more. I got back to the waggon 

 late that night, and soon afterwards reached Tati, 

 where I have been ever since. Incidents are rather 

 scarce, and I have therefore made the most of the 

 foregoing insignificant ones. 



" I have now a new driver, my old one having 

 refused to go with me after my first repulse by the 

 Makalakas. My present man is a huge creature, 

 civil enough, but too fond of brandy. He one even- 

 ing made a raid when I was absent and broke open 

 some of my boxes, not leaving a single bottle of 

 brandy in my possession ; but how many bottles I 

 had I have no idea. He shared the spoils with his 

 friends, and they were at it all night. Next day I 

 cross-examined him closely, and got a confession out 

 of him. I then fined him £$, and reduced his wages 

 from £4. a month to £3. He got off cheap, as it is 

 common in such cases to tie the offender up and 

 whip him. The whole race of waggon-drivers, with 

 scarcely an exception, are worthless wretches — dissi- 

 pated, lazy, impudent, and dishonest. It really seems 

 that civilization has no other effect upon Kaffirs than 

 to make them worse than they naturally are. 



" I must now wind up this terrible letter. I know 

 it is far too long, but it is too late now to obviate 

 that defect." 



Another of Frank Oates's letters, written to one 

 of his brothers at this time, is as follows : — 



"Tati, October \6th, 1874. 



" The mail is in, and with it a letter from you, 



