242 MATABELE LAND. 



has undertaken to conduct me to the Falls and back. 1 

 He is a coloured individual, certainly, but appears 

 a very intelligent and capable fellow. He has been 

 hunting for Wood and Selous, and it is thought he 

 will prove very efficient. He has insisted on large 

 relays of medicine and food, and I have been able to 

 get nearly everything 1 wanted here. There were in 

 fact eight waggons in all here yesterday. The 

 trader who lost his finger when coming on with me 

 before, with his two waggons, and a partner of his 

 with one waggon, went on last night. Another trader 

 is turning back now with Wood and Selous, who 

 are going back ; and another waggon, belonging to 

 a party of Griquas, has gone on with the traders. 



" I expect to be back in Bamangwato in Feb- 

 ruary, en route for home. ... I can scarcely fancy 

 myself returning so soon from a successful visit to 

 the Falls, having so often failed ; but I think you 

 will agree with me that I was not wrong in determin- 

 ing to make another attempt, as things turned out, 

 and acting, as I am, on what I consider to be very 

 competent advice. It is now the beginning of the 

 rainy season, but very little rain has yet fallen ; only 

 a few heavy showers, with intervals of very hot 

 weather between them." 



The day after writing this letter — on the 3d of 

 December — Frank Oates started off again, as above 

 mentioned, towards the Zambesi, and soon came up 

 with Stoffel, who had left upon the 1st, in company 



1 This was a native from the Cape, named John Mackenna, who, 

 as well as Klaas the driver, remained with Frank Oates till his death. 



