THROUGH Z A MB ESI A. 
343 
Lo-ben seemed very friendly, and evidently had quite 
forgotten the troublesome episode of the shooting of the 
sea-cow. When Selous asked permission to enter the 
hunting veldt, the monarch granted his request with a 
smile, remarking, “ Selous is a young lion.” 
Looking at me, he then asked what I was about 
to do. On being told that I was anxious to go through 
his country, and subsequently through unexplored 
Mashona-land, to the Zambesi, he simply remarked, “ It 
is very far away.” 
A crowd of endunas began to assemble, and as it 
was clear that a “ big talk ” was about to ensue, we de¬ 
parted without making a further attempt to gain the 
desired permission. Walking to the back of the house 
we saw numbers of hive-shaped huts, the homes of the 
queens, the housing of the royal harem. 
Here was a novel scene ! Upon grass mats in front of 
the huts singly, or in bevies here and there, the queens 
of the Matabeli reclined gracefully and with careless ease, 
basking their rather embonjwiiit, but yet symmetrical 
frames like glossy seals lolling in the warmth of the sun. 
# A strange but not unpleasant odour filled the air, for 
these queens are in the habit of scenting themselves with 
a perfume made from wild flowers and herbs rolled into 
balls about the size of small apples. 
The picturesqueness of this figure-grouping, however, 
was somewhat marred by the occupation of some of the 
royal ladies, who were imbibing copious quantities of 
beer, and eating largely of meat. Yet they were a 
happy-looking company, beaming with good-nature, and 
all running to portliness, which evidently increased with 
years. We sat down and drank beer with some of them. 
They asked Fairbairn numerous questions about me, and 
with feminine curiosity seemed particularly anxious to 
know where my wives were, if I had any, and if so, how 
many ? One in a jesting humour called to some slave 
girls who passed, and turning to me said : 
“Now choose a wife from among these; which shall 
it be ? ” 
Fairbairn was well acquainted with all the queens. He 
