Sometimes the immense waste seemed to have the appearance
of an Indian shawl of gigantic dimensions; the yel-;
lowish brown grass encircling the blackened spots, and thus
forming a curiously eccentric pattern, varied by the fickle
freaks of the wind, or abruptly decked out by the moist
places in the verdure.
We now steered about N.N.E. in direction (magnetic).
Intending to spur on stragglers, I was purposely in rear
of the party. The first waverer I came across was a man
who had become tired of carrying a load of cartridges, and
had quietly laid them down. I met him on his way back.
He said the load was very heavy. Consigning him with
weighty words to a snowless region, I got his abandoned
burden placed upon one of the spare men, whose actions,
when he raised the bundle, occasioned grave thoughts that
he, too, would cave in and follow his brother homewards.
I t was not so this time, however, and we forthwith proceeded
to drive on the remainder of the party.
We had marched only about three hours when we came
to a small rivulet called the Zururu. The afternoon was
now well advanced, and I could see from the demeanour of
the Mashona that they had not yet comprehended the fact
that we were actually en route for the north, intending to
push on in right good earnest.
I consulted with John as to what was to be done. The
result was that John went off, taking C. L. K., in search of
game. I t was necessary that I should stay in camp.
“ Gtood luck, John,” I called out; “ for Heaven’s sake get
meat, even if you shoot away the whole belt of cartridges !
We must keep up our names as hunters, or these people
won’t follow us.”
I then pitched the small tent which I formerly described,
stowing inside most of the things I wished to keep dry.
Big fires, the great essentiality in Mashona comfort, were
built by the boys, and soon after dusk John returned. He
had killed one eland (Oreas canna) bull and two cows.
John, as he often proved, was a splendid hunter, and in
the present instance I warmly congratulated him upon his
success.
No sooner did the Mashona hear of the meat than they
were off in numbers, nearly all carrying firebrands, bent
upon gorging themselves all night, and bringing what was
left to the camp in the morning.
A silvery sunrise, which brightened the vast plains, found
the camp in an active bustle. Of course, as usual, I was
anxious to be off, but I had to curb impatience until the
necessary distributions of meat had been carried out.
When it was all brought in, Karemba began to give it
out in portions to all those who said they would go further;
but of course there was no knowing how far any of the
carriers would go. After they had been served, the followers
from the town were let loose into the wild-looking shambles,
and then the meat seemed to fly in all directions. Squabbling
and wrangling over what were considered dainty bits,
they reminded me of a herd of wild dogs, especially when
now and then one of the number would wriggle out of the
crowd and rush with his portion to some secluded spot.
As I had taken the precaution to keep a lot of meat in
reserve, I was ready, should it be necessary, to give some
to those unfortunates who, spiritless or feeble, would come
out of the scramble without a bite, for a few of the more
energetic had made a “ corner ” in the meat market, and
seemed to have established a monopoly.
At length there was only one * bone of contention,” and
that happened to be a leg, at which two men hauled and
jerked with might and main, making a single “ tug of war”