We had been warned by different people that the rains were close at hand, and that we should then be bogged and unable to travel.

The flood in the river might be an early one, or so small in volume as to give but one chance of the "Pioneer" descending to the ocean.

The Makololo too were becoming dispirited by sickness and want of food, and were naturally anxious to be back to their fields in time for sowing.

But in addition to all this and more, it was felt that it would not be dealing honestly with the Government, were we, for the sake of a little eclat, to risk the detention of the "Pioneer" up the river during another year; so we decided to return; and though we had afterwards the mortification to find that we were detained two full months at the ship waiting for the flood which we expected immediately after our arrival there, the chagrin was lessened by a consciousness of having acted in a fair, honest, above-board manner throughout.
On the night of the 29th of September a thief came to the sleeping-place of our men and stole a leg of a goat.

On complaining to the deputy headman, he said that the thief had fled, but would be caught.