i882.] 
On the Way to the Zambesi. 
39 
By about nine o'clock all was ready for a start. I called over 
the names of the men, each one answering and getting his load ; 
all seemed well pleased. The party mustered twenty, including 
Bushmen and one or two others not employed by me. We 
started in a north-westerly direction. 
The first march was very tiresome, being across the bed of 
reeds and marsh into which the Mababi river flows — an immense 
bed of slush, and of reeds which towered a long way above one's 
head, and at times were so close together that one could not see 
his neighbour a few steps on before. We found the ground, or 
rather the layer of rotten reeds and sand, very difficult to walk 
over, and we sank at times almost up to our knees. I thought 
we should never get the donkeys through ; but by about four 
o'clock p.m. we managed to get on solid ground, and made for a 
Masaroa town, where we expected to find water. The water-pit 
being nearly dry, there was nothing for the poor donkeys; we 
remained there for the night, as I expected the waters in front 
would also fail us, but I had made up my mind not to leave 
until my donkeys had a good drink. The Masaroa kept on 
drawing water, and scarcely left us enough to drink ; still I waited 
patiently, and after midnight, when the water had gathered again, 
I sent out six men who emptied the pit, yet brought enough for 
the donkeys. 
ON TOWARD THE CHOBE RIVER. 
August isf, 1882. — We were up before daybreak and off as 
quickly as possible, having a long and probably dry tramp before 
us. We got on well to-day, having to go over good firm ground, 
though the bush was very thick and thorny. Before sundown we 
chose as comfortable a looking place as possible, and in about 
half- an -hour's time the men made a "kotla." The Basubia 
know well how to make one snug for the night. They cut down 
branches of trees and stick them in the ground, forming a half 
circle ; bring wood for the fire (we burn no less than seven big 
fires all night), and cut grass to sleep on. Then the bundles 
are brought and laid down at my head, and Setobi puts the 
kettle on the fire. After supper, leaving a little in the pots for 
an early morning repast — we cook but one meal a- day — I read 
and pray in Sechuana to the men. It does not take much rocking 
to send me to sleep. 
