I soon, reached the store of the Bechuanaland Trading
Association, but was informed by a boy that the master
was asleep. However, the manager soon appeared, and
having read Mr. Rhodes’ letter of introduction, he offered
me food and refreshment. I explained to him my plans,
and he advised my taking up my quarters in the town,
and showed me the outspanning place. Taking everything
into consideration, I decided to follow his advice.
It was necessary that I should be among the natives to be
able to study them, and access to the place is so
difficult that camping at the foot of the hill was out
of the question.
I rode back to my waggons. It was with great
difficulty that the oxen had managed to drag the waggons
through the heavy sand as far as the Lechaneng Vley
at the foot of the hill. The next morning I anxiously
watched their progress over the mass of boulde,rs leading
to the town. Every minute I thought the whole concern
would -go to pieces, the wheels going over the boulders
and then dropping heavily down on the other side.
Sometimes the whole waggon was standing on two
wheels with the others lifted up in the air as if about
to, capsize, but although at an angle of nearly forty
degrees the waggon did not tumble. At times they
were shaken all over, squeaking and trembling like a
living creature. At last, sick of the sight of the falling
oxen, the waggons threatening to break to pieces, I rode
ahead to choose a camping place.
Half an hour later the waggons arrived, mine minus
its awning, which had been torn away by the projecting
branch of a tree. Hundreds of waggons have to pass
this place—many have met with the same misfortune—
but not one of the drivers who has gone by has ever
thought of cutting this branch down. I have seen many
a place of the same kind in South Africa; either it is a
branch that carries away the awning of a waggon, or a
tree against which all the waggons will .bang themselves,
3°
CH IE F OF TH E BAMANGWATO.