WELCOME FROM SHOSHONG TRADERS 387 
months—which altered my appearance to such an extent that 
Paul was for a few minutes in some doubt as to my identity. 
One trek ahead, where we camped for the night, a violent 
thunderstorm overtook us, that made it necessary to pitch our 
tent; and in the cool of the next morning we made a thirteen- 
mile trek over hard ground once more. The sensation of 
feeling one’s feet firmly strike the ground and the effect of 
making a full swinging stride was so exhilarating, after the 
cramped manner of walking in the sand, that we felt able to 
walk any distance. With a frugal meal of corn—all that re¬ 
mained in the way of food—clothed in our best—shirt-sleeves 
and much worn and frayed moleskins—clean, yet comparing 
poorly with even the Mongwatos we met on the road for 
appearance, we started ahead of the cart, and walked over the 
intervening distance to Shoshong. 
The good traders of Shoshong were much surprised to see 
us again, as they had heard disastrous news of our attempts 
to get up the Chobe river from Westbeech, who had informed 
them of the common report that Matambanja’s people had 
destroyed the expedition to a man, a rumour that caused Mr. 
Jan Yeyers to congratulate himself on his foresight in having 
left us where he did. Mr. Erickson, an enterprising trader from 
Walfish Bay and Damaraland, who had passed with a troop 
of cattle from that country for Kimberley, also assured them 
that we could never have crossed the desert from the Chobe 
to Indala’s, and that even in case we had, Mr. Indala bore a 
reputation that precluded the return of any whites who visited 
him with such a small party as accompanied us. We heard 
that suspicion of spying out the country had also fallen on 
Selous, who was then shooting in the Mababe district, an old 
hunting-ground of his. Hearing that a troop of natives from 
the lake were looking for white men with Matabeles, Selous 
decided to vacate the position without loss of time, and hurried 
off to his protector and friend, Lobengula, with his suspected 
people, leaving the wagons to follow on at greater leisure. 
Khama no sooner heard of our arrival than he sent for 
