a coat is necessary, and during our two nights at the
Yellow Jacket huts we had to remove rugs, which
were sorely wanted below, to procure the necessary
warmth above.
One more breakfast off that excellent eland fortified
us for our ride, and the sun was not high in the
heavens when we bade farewell to our hospitable
entertainers. About three hours* ride brought us to
the Mazoe again just before it enters the Poort on its
way to the lower valley. At the extremity of the
valley we were riding down, just before the hills are
ascended to reach the level plateau, there is another
nest of Kaffir villages ; one of these had incurred the
enmity of the officers of thé Chartered Company for
refusing to recognise its authority by restoring stolen
cattle.
A fine of cattle had been imposed on the chief,
accompanied by a threat that if the fine was not paid
by a certain day the kraal would be burnt down. The
fine was not paid, and Major Eorbes, with a band of
men, rode out to execute the orders, borrowing two of
our horses for the occasion. As we passed through
the village the ashes of huts and granaries were still
smouldering, broken pots and household goods lay
around in wild confusion, and all the inhabitants had
taken refuge at one of the neighbouring villages. As
we,‘passed by this it is needless to say we did not
meet with an altogether cordial reception ; we dismounted
and went amongst them, asking in vain for
beer, eggs, and fowls.
£ The Morunko had taken them all,’ they said, and
they received our overtures of friendship with silent,
and we thought rather ominous, contempt. Accordingly
we remounted and rode off, and I think all
parties were relieved when we had put a little distance
between us and the village. Since then I
hear a solitary white man has been murdered in the
Mazoe Valley. Luckily our force amounted to three,
a number sufficient to overawe any Mashonaland
village.
There are some nice-looking farms just started on
the slopes of the hills here. Near there we met a
wondrous long string of natives in single file, who
avoided us and looked askance at us and our animals.
Some day or another, when Fort Salisbury becomes a
big place, and food supplies are needed, those who
have pegged out farms in the Mazoe district will reap
a fine profit from their agricultural produce, if I am
not much mistaken.