250 MATABELE LAND. 



ing me to pack one of his own three boys ; so I had 

 the benefit of ten, the doctor had two, and John had 

 three boys. We were a party, in all, of two white 

 men, one Colonial boy (John Mackenna), and fifteen 

 Kaffirs, and left the Pandamatenga a little before sun- 

 down ; walked three miles up the river, and, crossing 

 it, encamped for the night. During the walk I saw 

 a fine tall palm — the first tall one I have seen. The 

 leaves were fan-like and the tree extremely graceful. 



" December iZth. — Beautiful day. Had coffee, 

 and started soon after sunrise. Kept up the river, 

 say five miles, then recrossed and left it, and went 

 ten miles more, crossing a sandbelt, I with two boys 

 finding water in an open grassy space, or ' lichter.' 

 The others missed the water, and I rejoined 

 them in the long sandbelt, which extended beyond 

 where we halted. Then went three miles more, 

 passing some water, of which we were very glad, and 

 at last reached a fine lichter, with a stream in it, run- 

 ning away to the east, into the Pandamatenga. On 

 our left was a ridge, some two or three miles off, 

 with palm on it, which the doctor says he passed on 

 his right, when he went to the Falls last. Rose to 

 opposite side of lichter, to high ground, and camped. 



"December 29M. — Fine morning, but rather 

 cloudy ; a few drops of rain in the afternoon. Had 

 coffee, and again started early. Immediately after 

 starting crossed another stream, also running, they 

 say, into the Pandamatenga. Giraffe and quagga 

 spoor seen. We only went six miles to-day, as one 

 of the boys had to be sent back for an axe, and we 



