only we agreed to one thing, and that was to leave
his women alone. As for ourselves and our white
men, we answered that he need have no fear, but as for
our negro workmen we would not hold ourselves responsible
for them, but suggested that, as they would
all be his subjects, he must see to them himself.
Umgabe is a huge fat man, tall and dignified,
though naked; around his neck he has a string of large
white Venetian beads of considerable antiquity, brought
doubtless to this country by Arabian traders in the
Middle Ages; in his hand he carries his iron sceptre,
the badge of a chief, and his battle axe is lavishly
decorated with brass wire. Amongst his men we saw
many of varied types, some distinctly Arabian in features,
and I am bound to say the Kaffir type amongst
them was the exception and by no means the rule.
Arched noses, thin lips, and a generally refined type
of countenance are not, as a rule, prominent features
amongst those of pure Kaffir blood, but they are common
enough around Zimbabwe.
We made arrangements with Umgabe about our
work, and collected together a team of thirty individuals
who were to do our digging, &c., for the wages
of one blanket a month, which blankets cost 4s. 1(M.
apiece at Eort Tuli, and probably half that in England.
Eor this reward they were to work and also find themselves
in ■ everything; it is the present stipulated
rate of wages in the country, but I do not expect i t
will remain so long.
We had great difficulties with them at first.
Spades and picks were new to nearly all of them; they
UMGABE AND HIS INDUNAS