240 MATABELE LAND. 



less objectionable for a journey to the Zambesi than 

 the month of April, when the rain would only just 

 be over and the moisture not all dried up. The 

 fact was that neither one time nor the other was a 

 good one, and between the two it was but a choice 

 of evils. So anxious, however, was Frank Oates 

 to reach the river that season, that gladly catching 

 at the somewhat doubtful encouragement he now 

 chanced to receive from these two gentlemen, he 

 resolved to push forward at once, without intend- 

 ing, however, to make a lengthened stay, or do more 

 on this occasion than merely see the Falls, and 

 obtain a few specimens of natural history. And 

 thus resolved, he again resumed his journey on 

 December 3d, and with no serious delay or hind- 

 rance succeeded in reaching the Zambesi. Before 

 starting, however, he wrote home the following 

 short letter, which Messrs. Wood and Selous under- 

 took to convey as far as Tati : — 



" Matengwe River, December id, 1874. 



"Again I report progress. I am past the ob- 

 noxious Makalakas, and am actually going to start 

 for a hurried run to the Victoria Falls. I left Tati 

 with the people I told you of, who were going on 

 to a place about three days ahead of here on the 

 Zambesi road, intending to wait there till April and 

 then go on to the Zambesi. I intended to accompany 

 them and turn back, as I did not wish to wait for 

 another season, and did not think it advisable to 

 make a hurried run to the Zambesi and back again 



