i882.] 
On the Way to the Zambesi. 
13 
Shoshong ; in fact, I can say honestly I had no will or wish as to 
my future. 
AN ENGLISH FELLOW-TRAVELLER TO SHOSHONG. 
I had intended visiting Mr. Leask at Klerksdorp, having a 
letter of introduction to him \ and just as I was going to do so 
last week I heard that Mr. Selous was staying with him, and was 
about to start for the interior. It was he who wrote a paper in 
the Geographical Proceedings that I valued much ; he was the 
only person who had visited the Batoka besides Livingstone. 
I rode out to Klerksdorp on Thursday, and was welcomed by 
Mr. and Mrs. Leask. I also met Mr. Selous, and had a long 
talk about the Batoka. He kindly asked me to accompany him 
to Shoshong, and I accepted his invitation, and returned at 
once to Potchefstroom. Early the next morning a waggon came 
up for some goods for Mr. Selous. Fortunately I was ready. 
I had just time to buy a few things, take a hasty farewell, and 
join the waggon outside the town at 9.30. We arrived here this 
morning, and hope to start again on Tuesday. Mr. Leask kindly 
sent to gather all the English-speaking people for a meeting to-night. 
I know you will not think anxiously of me. "^// His paths 
drop fatness." I feel that the snare which needs much grace to 
watch against is jjty own will cropping up and leading me into 
my own paths, which only end in sorrow and bitterness. 
February T-^th. — I find I shall be very busy to-day getting my 
own things right and helping Mr. Selous ; besides, I have a sick 
man to attend to who has just returned from the interior, and 
was thought to be dying last night. I at once rolled him in 
blankets wrung out of boiling water, which gave him relief from 
his great pain. His whole body was fearfully swollen, but this 
treatment had a wonderful effect. We had quite a large meeting 
last night. The waggon is now packed, ready for a start. Mr. 
Selous is going to collect specimens for the British and 
Continental museums. 
In speaking of the Batoka, he says they are the best-disposed 
tribe of Africans he has met with. The Jesuits have, however, gone 
among them lately. They first formed a station on this side of 
the Zambesi, and then two of them went over to the Batoka and 
were well received. One of them died, however, in a mysterious 
way; the other said he was poisoned by the natives, and at once 
