the severity of its bite. I had previously sustained the
pincer-like grip of the beetle Manticora tuberculata,
which was much less painful than that of this Ortho-
pteron, the mark of which on my finger was carried for
several days. An hour’s walk brought us to the first
cave, which the Kafirs visited before proceeding to the
second and larger one, where they sustained the
blockade and in which most of them perished. It
was very hot, and when we reached the abrupt rocky
side of the hill up which we had to climb, for the
cavern is situate some distance from the base *, we
were glad to quench our thirst at the small stream of
cold clear water that flows along the valley at its foot.
It was this stream that the thirst-maddened Kafirs
sought to reach at night, when, however, the Boer
bullet was usually received. Inside the gloomy precincts
of the cavern skulls were strewn in profusion, but
generally without the lower jaws, and many have been
taken away by visitors: the dung of the sheep and
goats possessed by the imprisoned Kafirs was still
intact on the dry floor, and handles of axes, grinding-
stones for corn, baskets, &c., bore their witness to the
retributive slaughter of 1854. We could not penetrate
into the recesses of the cavern, as we had not brought
candles; but it was an uncanny scene, and a large
dog that accompanied us seemed very ill at ease
and kept near the entrance. I was able to select six
very fair crania f, both juvenile and adult, which I
brought away, and we retraced our steps, glad to reach
the “ hotel ” once more and drink a bottle of English
ale, which, however, in this part is priced four shillings
and sixpence $.
All the way, both coming and going, we saw the
* Mr. Alford describes these caves, of which there are a number in the
neighbourhood, as “ large water-worn cavities in the stratification of the
quartzites, formed by the removal of portions of the softer beds ” ( ‘ Geological
Features of the Transvaal,’ p. 49).
t These crania are now incorporated in the. fine craniological collection
belonging to the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons; and are fully
described by Professor Stewart in the Appendix to this booh (see p. 157).
% In the Spelonlen I once paid 5s. 6<f., which may be taken as the high-
water price for our English beverage.
commencement of the Mashonaland trek. Wagons,
drawn principally by donkeys, well equipped, were
bearing young and enterprising spirits to Rhodes’ new
country and England’s new Protectorate. Prospectors
were hastening to find and peg-out claims which contained
the precious reef, and though much fever and
more hardship will be encountered in the early days, it
will probably be the South-African land for the future
colonist and will remain under the old flag. I t is
bound to absorb some of the capital of investors which
might have otherwise reached the Transvaal, and
though Boer and Hollander may sometimes think the
Republic can do without the English, it will still miss
the. influx of English money.
When a man has once gone prospecting he finds a
charm in the life which he seldom deserts. Of course
I am speaking of those free spirits who are no use in
business, have a moral law unto themselves, and love
the solitude of nature, diversified by an occasional
carouse in a large town. Such a one we carried in our
coach on the up-journey. He was bound for Mashonaland,
and had purchased the wagon and oxen to carry
the party, his friends having contributed the other
necessaries. The wagon, however, had gone on without
him, as he informed us he had indulged in such a
“ paralatic drunk ” that his friends had become tired of
waiting, and he was now endeavouring to overtake his
party. Another member of the staff had still to follow.
Four times had this susceptible man driven to the
Poort Avhere the wagon waited^ to start, and each time
accompanied by a “ lady ” friend to see him off, but on
each occasion his will failed and he returned to town with
his fair companion. These men when they do get out
and settle down will be sober slaves, but they are like
sailors on shore when a town is reached. My companion
was a lump of good-nature, of strong build and
constitution, and in all my experience at home and
abroad I never saw a man drink so much and show the
effects so little. Consequently what the nature of the
banquet was which prevented his joining the wagon,
can be more easily imagined than described.