which amounted to this : that the press-gang at Tette,
acting under the orders of Chakundakoro, had compelled
them to enlist in my party against their inclinations :
giving them only two fathoms of wretched, flimsy cotton
instead of four, which was what they asked and what the
governor’s subordinate had assured them they would receive..
Chibanga corroborated this statement, saying that the
Maravi had all received four “ bracos,” but the Landin
only two, just as had been stated. When I inquired why
they did not refuse to move until they were paid, they said
that the deputy of the governor had threatened to throw
them into jail if they refused. Exclamations, of a far from
friendly character, broke out when the name of Chakundakoro
was mentioned ; making me think that if he undertook
a journey such as mine his prospects of returning would be
far from healthy, especially if he went among the Landin,
with whom he was a man something worse than notorious.
I thought a great deal more than I cared to say
about this treatment of the men. To my friend the
governor I attached no blame. His knowledge of the
Kaffir character was far too thorough to allow him to use
compulsory measures with men whom he knew would have
my life in their hands.
From my journal written on that day, I copy the following:
«—“ I do not blame them. I would have done the
same myself, and perhaps not given my man the chance to
arrange matters.”
To the Landin, howeyer, I had to make good the
difference, which was a heavy draught upon the limited
stock.
This matter being adjusted, inquiries were made respecting
the route, for it occurred to me that we were
holding too much to the eastward. They pointed N.N.E.,
N IG E T MARCEES. 6.9
remarking that it would be in that direction we would
proceed; but added that it would be impossible to advance
during daytime, as there was no water, consequently we
would have to make the distance between the heats.
Another obstacle was the fact that the Makanga claimed
the country, a trouble I could not comprehend at the
time, but afterwards found out what it meant. A Landin
to a Makanga is of the “ red rag to a bull ” sort of
provocation.
Throughout tho weary length of a tiring - and trying day
we sat, half suffocated by the heated atmosphere, awaiting
anxiously the signs of the setting sun, at which time it had
been arranged we should make another move. Progress
was quite different now; we used to anticipate the rising
sun, now we longed for the gloom of night. Oh, for the
mountain air once more ! What a blessing it would be to
have just one whiff of the morning breeze as it kissed the
hill-tops far above the sweltering plains and valleys !
Partridges were seen in close proximity to the camp, but
only two, and at most four, in a covey.
Evening was close at hand, and as I had been asleep
most of the day I found it hard to tell at a glance whether
I was witnessing the sunset or sunrise. The similarity
of appearances was remarkable. In the morning, a faint
crimson haze hung over the horizon like a veil of tinted
vapour, behind which the sun’s disc was strongly defined,
presaging the tremendous heat of the day. These appearances
are repeated in the evening; but the western sky
assumes richer hues when old Sol is lowering behind the
misty curtain, and the shades of night are falling upon the
earth.
We are again m route. Six hours have passed since we
left the Palm Wells. With the exception of two very