264 MATABELE LAND. 



ficial in most stages of this fever. They were, there- 

 fore, all now pushing forward to the Tati with the 

 least possible delay. 



On the morning of the 5th of February, as just 

 stated, Frank Oates's condition was much more 

 favourable, and there may still presumably have 

 been hope of his recovery, when unfortunately, a 

 point being reached during the day where some of 

 his boys had to be paid off and discharged, the 

 annoyance and excitement due to this circumstance 

 — for at such times the boys always manage to be 

 troublesome — brought on a relapse, and towards 

 the afternoon of that day he again became worse. 

 The party, as it chanced, were then in a district 

 where there was no water for the oxen, and were 

 travelling with all haste to reach a place where 

 they could get some ; yet so alarming were Frank 

 Oates's symptoms, that towards evening Dr. Brad- 

 shaw, who was with his waggon, was obliged to 

 order a halt. This occurred at a certain point in the 

 journey, a little north of the same Makalaka kraal at 

 which the traveller had already experienced so much 

 trouble. He was now much exhausted, and Dr. 

 Bradshaw got him to take some soup and a little 

 brandy, and then left him for a few minutes to go to 

 the other waggon. He had not been gone, however, 

 many minutes, when Mr. Westbeech's English-speak- 

 ing boy, who had been left in charge, hurried after 

 him begging him to return at once, as a sudden 

 change appeared to be taking place. This Dr. 

 Bradshaw did — but only in time to find his com- 



