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eight who belonged to one of the Zulu tribes and desired to get back to
their own country； whence they had wandered with some Boers； I do not
think that we slept more than two or three hours out of the twenty…four。
But； it may be asked； what was my aim； whither went I； what inquiries
had I made？ To answer the last question first； I had made every
possible inquiry； but with little or no result。 Marie's letter had said
that they were encamped on the bank of the Crocodile River； about fifty
miles from Delagoa Bay。 I asked everyone I met among the
Portuguesewho； after all； were not manyif they had heard of such an
encampment of emigrant Boers。 But these Portuguese appeared to have
heard nothing； except my host； Don Jose； who had a vague recollection of
somethinghe could not remember what。
The fact was at this time the few people who lived at Lorenzo Marquez
were too sodden with liquor and other vices to take any interest in
outside news that did not immediately concern them。 Moreover； the
natives whom they flogged and oppressed if they were their servants； or
fought with if they were not； told them little； and almost nothing that
was true； for between the two races there was an hereditary hate
stretching back for generations。 So from the Portuguese I gained no
information。
Then I turned to the Kaffirs； especially to those from whom I had bought
the cattle。 _They_ had heard that some Boers reached the banks of the
Crocodile moons agohow many they could not tell。 But that country；
they said； was under the rule of a chief who was hostile to them； and
killed any of their people who ventured thither。 Therefore they knew
nothing for certain。 Still； one of them stated that a woman whom he had
bought as a slave； and who had passed through the district in question a
few weeks before； told him that someone had told her that these Boers
were all dead of sickness。 She added that she had seen their wagon caps
from a distance； so； if they were dead； 〃their wagons were still alive。〃
I asked to see this woman； but the native refused to produce her。 After
a great deal of talk； however； he offered to sell her to me； saying that
he was tired of her。 So I bargained with the man and finally agreed for
her purchase for three pounds of copper wire and eight yards of blue
cloth。 Next morning she was produced； an extremely ugly person with a
large； flat nose； who came from somewhere in the interior of Africa；
having； I gathered； been taken captive by Arabs and sold from hand to
hand。 Her name； as near as I can pronounce it； was Jeel。
I had great difficulty in establishing communication with her； but
ultimately found that one of my newly hired Kaffirs could understand
something of her language。 Even then it was hard to make her talk； for
she had never seen a white man； and thought I had bought her for some
dreadful purpose or other。 However； when she found that she was kindly
treated； she opened her lips and told me the same story that her late
master had repeated； neither more nor less。 Finally I asked her whether
she could guide me to the place where she had seen the 〃live wagons。〃
She answered： 〃Oh； yes；〃 as she had travelled many roads and never
forgot any of them。
This； of course； was all I wanted from the woman； who； I may add；
ultimately gave me a good deal of trouble。 The poor creature seemed
never to have experienced kindness； and her gratitude for the little I
showed her was so intense that it became a nuisance。 She followed me
about everywhere； trying to do me service in her savage way； and even
attempted to seize my food and chew it before I put it into my own
mouthto save me the trouble； I suppose。 Ultimately I married her；
somewhat against her will； I fear； to one of the hired Kaffirs； who made
her a very good husband； although when he was dismissed from my service
she wanted to leave him and follow me。
At length； under the guidance of this woman； Jeel； we made a start。
There were but fifty miles to go； a distance that on a fair road any
good horse would cover in eight hours； or less。 But we had no horses；
and there was no roadnothing but swamps and bush and rocky hills。
With our untrained cattle it took us three days to travel the first
twelve miles； though after that things went somewhat better。
It may be asked； why did I not send on？ But whom could I send when no
one knew the way； except the woman； Jeel； whom I feared to part with
lest I should see her no more？ Moreover； what was the use of sending；
since the messengers could take no help？ If everyone at the camp was
dead； as rumour told uswell； they were dead。 And if they lived； the
hope was that they might live a little longer。 Meanwhile； I dared not
part with my guide； nor dared I leave the relief wagons to go on with
her alone。 If I did so； I knew that I should never see them again；
since only the prestige of their being owned by a white man who was not
a Portuguese prevented the natives from looting them。
It was a truly awful journey。 My first idea had been to follow the
banks of the Crocodile River； which is what I should have attempted had
I not chanced on the woman； Jeel。 Lucky was it that I did not do so；
since I found afterwards that this river wound about a great deal and
was joined by impassable tributaries。 Also it was bordered by forests。
Jeel's track； on the contrary； followed an old slave road that； bad as
it was； avoided the swampy places of the surrounding country； and those
native tribes which the experience of generations of the traders in this
iniquitous traffic showed to be most dangerous。
Nine days of fearful struggle had gone by。 We had camped one night
below the crest of a long slope strewn with great rocks； many of which
we were obliged to roll out of the path by main force in order to make a
way for the wagons。 The oxen had to lie in their yokes all night； since
we dared not let them loose fearing lest they should stray； also lions
were roaring in the distance； although； game being plentiful； these did
not come near to us。 As soon as there was any light we let out the
teams to fill themselves on the tussocky grass that grew about； and
meanwhile cooked and ate some food。
Presently the sun rose； and I saw that beneath us was a great stretch of
plain covered with mist； and to the north； on our right； several denser
billows of mist that marked the course of the Crocodile River。
By degrees this mist lifted； tall tops of trees appearing above it； till
at length it thinned into vapour that vanished away as the sun rose。 As
I watched it idly； the woman； Jeel； crept up to me in her furtive
fashion； touched me on the shoulder and pointed to a distant group of
trees。
Looking closely at these trees； I saw between them what at first I took
for some white rocks。 Further examination； as the mist cleared；
suggested to my mind； however； that they might be wagon tilts。 Just
then th