272 MATABELE LAND. 



met those who had become acquainted with Frank 

 Oates in this country, Mr. Gilchrist found but one 

 opinion expressed concerning him. Many were the 

 kindnesses treasured in men's minds and now related, 

 which he had rendered to those he had encountered 

 in his travels ; whilst, on the other hand, he had him- 

 self apparently been no less fortunate in the kindly 

 services he had received from others. Friends had 

 arisen where he least expected them, beyond the pale 

 of European civilization, from each of whom he 

 parted in turn with a consciousness of mutual regret. 

 Such was the way in which he drew all hearts 

 towards him ; and after his death the good offices 

 of those who loved or esteemed him in his lifetime 

 were generously placed at the service of his family. 

 Conspicuous amongst this number stood the Rev. 

 John Mackenzie, of Bamangwato, and Mr. F. A. 

 Hathorn, of the Standard Bank, Pietermaritzburg, 

 the former of whom undertook the duties of executor 

 for the arrangement of his affairs in the interior, 

 whilst a like responsibility was accepted by the 

 latter for the settlement of matters in Natal. Nor 

 was it only what these two gentlemen did, but even 

 more the manner of their doing it, which placed the 

 traveller's relatives under a lasting sense of obliga- 

 tion to them, and served not a little to soothe the 

 first bitterness of their affliction. 



And now this brief history of the efforts and too 

 early extinction of a devoted life, otherwise it may 

 be conjectured destined to have rendered no mean 

 service in the extension of scientific knowledge and 



