only dreaming of the blissful time when we shall be released
from the bitter thraldom of dependence, and once again find
ourselves free to give effect and direction to our wills among
reasonable beings.
At length after much wrangling, and after paying each
of the carriers a fathom of cotton calico, without which not
one of them would have moved a single forward step, the
caravan started for the north. As I anticipated desertion,
we had thirty-three “ regulars,” and a multitudinous rabble
of nude creatures of all sorts and sizes who followed in our
wake.
Karemba and myself remained behind until all had left.
I then gave two fathoms of fine striped cloth, which might
almost be called beautiful, to the head man of the town of
Little TTnyamwenda, telling him to see that the cattle were
coralled every night, and the waggon carefully guarded
after our departure. TTnder its shelter I left numbers of
things to be delivered to Eairbairn at Buluwayo, whenever
John should make the homeward trip.
As for myself, I had made up my mind never to return to
the waggon. Henceforth our journey through this wild land
was to be performed on foot. Nature alone would decide
the places for our rest. Although I had not literally “ burnt
my boats,” I had done so in mental determination. Come
weal, come woe, the object of my journey would not be
abandoned!
CHAPTER VI.
MASHONA-LAND.
A funny ceremony—Working on superstition—Hypocritical Taroman—
An immense prairie fire—Meditations on the journey—Cold dews—
The slumbering camp—Unyamwenda, the chief—A tough-skinned
fellow—Desertions—Bundles of wisdom —Old Sebaii appears—The
charred plain—The Zururu river—John’s success in hunting—Gorging
the crowd—Furious quarrels over meat—The best way to manage
natives—Sterile rocks of Mashona-land—Making a skerm—Mashona
music—Karemba’s repute as a performer—Native dancing—Pleasure
in primitive life—“ Ah, master, I never see people like here!”—
Graving for limbo and beads—The Umvukwe and Busaka mountains__
Etsatse river—A troublesome goat—Curious hut—Prospecting for
gold—Mashona ablutions—Honest natives—Unexpected appearance of
Mcbesa, the Vulcan of Mashona-land—Pursued by grass fires—Black-
smithing in the wildernesses—A primitive forge—Ironstone of the
country—Troubles in camp—A night scene—Clannishness—Threat to
kill Sagwam—Quarrels in camp—A doubtful expedition.
M u c h a s I w a s im p r e s s e d w i t h t h e n a t u r a l h o n e s t y o f t h e s e
s im p l e a b o r ig in e s , I s t i l l t h o u g h t i t u n a d v i s a b l e t o n e g l e c t
p r e c a u t io n s fo r s e c u r in g t h e s a f e t y o f p r o p e r t y . T o e f f e c t
t h i s , a s om e w h a t c u r io u s a n d h i g h l y a m u s in g c e r em o n y h a d
to b e p e r fo rm e d .
Before we set out, the wily Karemba suggested that I
should stand in front of the waggon, and merely show
the people my watch. The sight, he said, of such an
extraordinary fetish would make them afraid to steal
during our absence. To put into effect this shrewd notion
of Karemba’s was the work of a minute. Standing in front
of the waggon, I assumed a portentous demeanour of a