"Between the Coastland and the Drakenburgh range every variety of tropical and European productions can be cultivated, from the pine apple to the gooseberry, and I have seen wheat, too, unequalled in size and quality, grown near where we now are." "I thought," replied Hughes, "that wherever the sugar cane prospers the climate is unhealthy?" "The single exception is that of Natal. The pasture land is eminently adapted for sheep, and nothing but capital is required--capital and labour. As we go more north towards the Zambesi, the nature of the land will alter." "And Mozelkatse--will he keep his word, think you?" "He is known for never breaking it," replied the missionary, "he is--." The sentence was not finished, for a black arm and hand seemed to glide out of the darkness, and was laid on the missionary's shoulder. Starting up, he seized the intruder by the throat, but instantly released him, laughing. It was Masheesh, the Matabele brave, who had presented them that day to Mozelkatse, and as it may be easily imagined that the king, though able to create the sun and moon, was readier with his spear than his pen; the credentials, which were to make his protection of the party known, assumed the tangible form of the chief who thus unceremoniously startled them, and who soon, squatted beside the blaze, proceeded gravely to light his pipe and smoke in silence. The fire grew low, the two Europeans retired into the tent, but Masheesh smoked on quietly and composedly. One by one the Kaffirs and Hottentots lay down, but still the glow of the chief's tobacco could be seen by the fire side. Rising at last, he heaped fresh wood on the embers, and calmly taking his place by the tent door and outside, though he had but to lift it to enter, Masheesh rolled himself in his buffalo hide, and, gorged with meat and tobacco, soon slept as soundly as the rest. Volume 1, Chapter V. THE MATABELE HUNT. Masheesh had been deputed by Mozelkatse to accompany them, and there was now nothing to stay their progress northward. The country, too, at the foot of the mountains, was comparatively bare of game, so early the following morning the small party outspanned, and took their way across the plain to strike the banks of the Limpopo. "How easily the Matabele falls into our ways!" said Wyzinski; as on the morning of the second day after leaving the mountains, the two were riding about half a mile ahead of the waggon, which was coming lumbering along behind them, the shouts of the drivers and the cracking of the long whip reaching their ears. "It seems strange to see him take the management of our people, and at the same time associate himself with us on a footing of perfect equality," replied Hughes, "he a half-naked and totally uneducated savage."