Some of the latter Frank Oates describes at the Umvungu in his Journal:--“There is a kind of fruit growing in trees here,” he says, “which the boys get very eagerly. It is really excellent. It is about the size of a large walnut, with a hard case cleft in four, inside which are glutinous woody fibre and seeds. The seeds are thrown away, and the fibre chewed. The latter contains a large quantity of sweet glutinous matter, the part rejected looking just like wood. There is also another excellent fruit,” he continues, “not uncommon, which grows on a small tree, and is larger than a very fine orange. In shape it is spherical, and the outer case, which is hard, is easily broken, and the contents laid bare. The pulp that surrounds the seeds is the part eaten. This is brown in colour, and deliciously acid in flavour, reminding one a little of roasted apple. The pulp of one of these fruits forms quite a refreshing little repast. I believe they are common near Pretoria,--so John tells me,--and no doubt are found all over the veldt. The boys always make a great rush to get them. When quite mature the outer rind is yellow, and they seem to fall to the ground as soon as they are thoroughly ripe.” The description of the first of these fruits corresponds closely, it may be remarked, with that of a fruit named “manéko,” which was met with by Livingstone near the Zambesi, in the centre of the continent. The last-named is of frequent occurrence in Zululand, where it is called “inhlala” (famine), from its value to the natives in times of scarcity. Besides these, other fruits were also met with in the district, including a sort of wild grape, acceptable enough on hot days, but somewhat deficient in juiciness and flavour. No great amount of game was seen upon the journey. [Illustration: KNOB-BILLED GOOSE.--_Sarkidiornis melanonotus._] 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. Frank Oates remained at Gubuleweyo or in its immediate neighbourhood some time--from December 5th 1873 to January 26th 1874. This was considerably longer than he had originally intended, but he was partly detained by the weather, which, besides being close and oppressive, was for a long time very wet and unfavourable for travelling, and partly that he might see the Great Dance, which took place in the early part of January. After this some trouble with his servants still further delayed him, as the case of one of them had to be taken before the king. He was able, however, meantime to make some additions to his collections of birds and other objects of natural history, though owing to the state of the weather he attempted little hunting; indeed, near the kraal, large game was invariably scarce and wild.