Departure from England--St. Helena--Cape Town--Arrival at Durban--Pietermaritzburg--Start up country--Pretoria; its climate and vegetation--The High Veldt--Dutch Boers--The Crocodile River--Bamangwato Page 1 CHAPTER II. The journey resumed--Halt on the Seruli--Bushmen on the Gokwe--The Shashe--The Tati Settlement--Adventure with a lion--W. E. Oates returns to the coast; particulars of his journey 23 CHAPTER III. Frank Oates proceeds to the King’s Town--Crosses the Ramaqueban--Dutch hunters on the Impakwe--The Inkwesi; picturesque scenery--John Lee’s farm--Manyami’s Kraal--The Shashani--Fine country--Kumala River 42 CHAPTER IV. Arrival at Gubuleweyo--Interview with the King--Start for the Zambesi--Hope Fountain--Inyati--Difficulty of obtaining bearers--The Zambesi abandoned--Hunting expedition on the Umvungu and Gwailo Rivers--Experiences of a half-caste--Birds’ nests--The indunas’ tree--Hunting--A lunar eclipse--Return to Gubuleweyo--Wild fruit 58 CHAPTER V. Stay at Gubuleweyo--New Year’s Day--The Great Dance--Cattle slaughtered--Departure of the King; the royal procession--A dispute referred to him--Lobengula’s court 92 CHAPTER VI. Return to Tati--Changed aspect of the country--Constant delays--The Mashonas--At Manyami’s again--John Lee’s--Letter home--The Inkwesi--Wild fruit--A hornbill’s nest--The Impakwe and Ramaqueban Rivers--Graves of Englishmen--White ants--Bushman remains--The Tati reached 116 CHAPTER VII. Hunting trip on the Semokwe--A native musician--Gigantic baobabs--Return to Tati--Journey to Shoshong--The Bamangwato and Matabele nations--Fighting amongst the natives--Start back for Tati--Misadventures and delays--Fresh arrangements 139 CHAPTER VIII. Again at Tati--Fresh causes of delay--Lions on the Motloutsi--Threatened by natives--Forthcoming prospects 161 CHAPTER IX. Fresh start for the Zambesi--The Ramaqueban again--A lion shot--Singular building--Wild fruit--First Kraal of the Makalakas--Stopped by the induna--Return to Tati--To Gubuleweyo and back--Fresh leave obtained--Altered arrangements for the journey 172 CHAPTER X.