building in the place, and he is the biggest merchant in
the Southern Transvaal.
A hospitable reception was given me here, and I soon
discovered that Mr. Leask was a countryman of mine who
had gone out early, and spent his younger days in elephant
hunting in the interior. Our conversation naturally led to
the question what brought me there with nothing but an
insignificant handbag. This I explained in a few words.
The journey I was about to take was a long one, and I
hoped to augment my baggage to some extent. £ had yet
to fetch a few more things from Kimberley, which would be
done as soon as I was able to get the information I wanted,
and had made the necessary arrangements for progress.
Now I was entirely away from railways and even post-carts.
I told Mr. Leask that I thought my scheme was, in
theory, good; but first of all I desired to find a gentleman
named Selous, whom I hoped to see among the hunters who
would arrive out soon.
“ My dear sir,” was Mr. Leask’s immediate reply, “ Mr.
Selous is in my house at this very moment. Look, there
are his waggons! He arrived out last night with two
waggon-loads of ivory, hides and horns, and a lot of other
•hunting trophies.”
This was indeed fortunate! The path might become
smoother.
When I told the great hunter and traveller of my project
to reach the Zamhesi by a north-easterly route, as yet
unexplored, he courteously offered me all the information
which his experience suggested—an invaluable advantage
to me then. Mr. Selous also said that as soon as he could
load up his waggons with the requisite articles for trade
and exchange, he would again be en route for the hunting-
grounds which lay two months’ travel to the north.
We then and there arranged that I should take a cart
and six oxen, if they could be got ready in time, and
accompany him as far as Matabeli-land.
He thought that the chief opponent to my scheme of
exploration towards the far north-east of Matabeli-land
would be the powerful despot Lo-bengula, the defiant ruler
of the country, whose name since my return to England
has been more than once before the public in connection
with the “ deafening inanity” of South African politics.
Lo-ben, as he is familiarly called, would be suspicious if he
heard of a white man wishing to go through his country
without asking permission to hunt for ivory or search for
gold.
“ Then,” continued Mr. Selous, “ there has been a good
deal of trouble lately. The old man was in a very bad
humour when I left. Some Hottentot hunters and one or
two Boers had been shooting sea-cows (hippopotamus),
which is contrary to the stipulation or agreement made
by those who obtain permission to hunt. When the hunters
came out to the king’s kraal there was great excitement
among the Matabeli people. Like the Zulus, they believe
that the spirits of their ancestors dwell in the uncouth
bodies of the amphibious hippo and crocodile.
“ The result of the turmoil was that all the hunters
were called to a great trial before the king, where they
had to sit on the ground for. whole days at a stretch while
the case was being heard, their position being made more
trying by the surroundings of a crowd of people who
thirsted for their blood. This craving would have been
satiated had it not been for the strong will of old Lo-ben.
As it was the hunters were insulted, scoffed and jeered at.
“ The verdict was that for each offence a heavy fine was
demanded from every defaulter. Some of the hunters who
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