Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-23
ID q $ C e. 3 : $ H Q = ,
Trading HEADQUARTERS for the People Dickinson County

been unable to execute because it would
have involved separation from m,
father. Put shortly, it was to under
take trading journey of exploration
| right through the countries now known
as the Free State and the Transvaal
and as much further north as 1 could
| go. 1t was an adventurous scheme, fol
Though the emigrant Beers had begun
to occupy positions in these territories
they were still, to all practical pur
poses, unexplored. But I was now
alone in the world, and it nattered lit:
tie what became of me; so, driven on
by the overmastering love of adventure,
which, old as l am, will, perhaps, still
be my cause of death, | determined to
undertake 1t.
Accordingly / sold such stocks and
goods as we had upon the station, re.
serving only the two best wagons and
two pairs Of oxen. The proceeds I in
vested in such goods as were then in
fashion, for trading purposes, and in
guns and ammunition. The guns would
have moved any modern explorer to
peFEiment; but such as they were Imam
aged to Dc q good deal of execution
with them. One of them was a single
bsrreled, smooth bore, fitted for percus-
sion caps-a roer we called (which
threw a three-ounce ball, and was
charged with a handful of coarse black
powder. Many is the elephant killed
with that Rees, although it generally
knocked me backwards when | fred
1t, which only did under eempulsion.
The best of the lot, perhaps, was a
double-barreled No. 10 shotgun, but it
had hint-locks. Also there were some
old tower muskets, which might or
might not throw straight at seventy
yards, l took six Kafirs with me, and
three geud horses, which were supposed
to be salted-thaS IS. proof against sick
ness. Among the Kaffirs was an old fell
low named Indaba-zimbi, which, beins
translated, means tongue of iron" I
suppose he got his name from his
student voice and exhaustless eloquence
This man was great character in his
way. He had been a noted Bitch-doc-
tor among ReighbeFing tribe, and came
to the station under the following cir
cumstances, which, as he plays 8 con-
siderable part in this history, are, per-
haps, worthrecording.
Two years before my fathers death 1
had occasion to search the country round
for some los. oxen. After long and
useless quest 1t occurred 70 me that
had better go to the place where the
oxen were bred by a Kafir CHIEF, whose |
name I forget, but whose kraal was |
about fifty milas from our station. |
There went, and found the oxen safe |
at home, The chief entertained me
handsomely, and on the following morn
ing -"t 70 pay my respects to him
- was somewhat sur
-,-,Sa6 - e., ga, ~uas hun
PAAeeU W Hno collectlon o. - |
dreds of men and women sitting rouu,.
him anxiously watching the sky, in
which the thunder-clouds were banking
Up In very ominous way.
you had better wait white man y
aid the chief, land see the rain-doctors
light the lightning"
inquired what he meant and learned
hat this man, Indaba-zimbi, had for
ONE years occupied the position of | I
F1zard-in-chief to the tribe, although
o was not member Of It, having been
orn IN the country now known as Zu-
1land. But q SON Of the chief, a man
about thirty, had lately set up as a
val In supernatural powers. This
rieated Indaba-zimbi beyond measure,
40 quarrel ensued between the two O
atSA-doct2rs that resulted in chal-.