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； for of course I never repeated a word。
Those of the Staff whom I recollect are； or were — for I think they are now all dead — Lord Gifford； Colonel （afterwards Sir Henry） Brackenbury； and Major （afterwards Sir William） Butler。 Of these the one who impressed himself most deeply upon my mind was Butler。 He was a most agreeable and sympathetic man； who took the trouble to talk a good deal to me； although I was but a lad。 I recall that with much graphic detail he told me the story of how； when he was suffering from fever； he was nearly thrown overboard as a dead man off the West Coast of Africa； where he had been serving in the Ashanti Expedition。 Recently I have been reading his very interesting and remarkable autobiography； in which I see he describes this incident。
Subsequently — but I think this was at Pietermaritzburg — I became well acquainted with Colonel （afterwards Sir George） Colley。 He stayed with us at Government House and I remember a curious little incident concerning him。
He was leaving Natal and wished to sell a shot…gun which I wished to purchase； though I am not sure whether this was on my account or on that of Sir Henry Bulwer。 We had a difference of opinion as to the price of the article。 Finally I interviewed him one morning when he was taking his bath； and he suggested that we should settle the matter by tossing。 This I did with a half…sovereign； he giving the call； but who won I forget。
Of my last tragic meeting with poor Colley at the time of the first Boer War I may speak later in this book。
After a short stay at Durban we proceeded to Maritzburg； the seat of government； in some kind of a horse conveyance； as； except for a short time on the coast； there was then no railway in Natal。 In those days it was a charming town of the ordinary Dutch character； with wide streets bordered by sluits of running water and planted with gum trees。
Of the year or so that I spent in Natal I have not much to say that is worthy of record。 The country impressed me enormously。 Indeed； on the whole I think it the most beautiful of any that I have seen in the world； parts of Mexico alone excepted。 The great plains rising by steps to the Quathlamba or Drakensberg Mountains； the sparkling torrential rivers； the sweeping thunderstorms； the grass…fires creeping over the veld at night like snakes of living flame； the glorious aspect of the heavens； now of a spotless blue； now charged with the splendid and many…coloured lights of sunset； and now sparkling with a myriad stars； the wine…like taste of the air upon the plains； the beautiful flowers in the bush…clad kloofs or on the black veld in spring — all these things impressed me； so much that were I to live a thousand years I never should forget them。
Then there were the Zulu Kaffirs living in their kraals filled with round beehive…like huts； bronze…coloured； noble…looking men and women clad only in their moochas； whose herds of cattle wandered hither and thither in charge of a little lad。 From the beginning I was attracted to these Zulus； and soon began to study their character and their history。
I a letter to my mother dated Government House； Natal； September 15； 1875。
My dearest Mother； — 。 。 。 You will by this time have got my letters from Durban and the Cape。 We left Durban at 10 A。M。 on the morning of the 1st September and came up the fifty…four miles over most tremendous hills in five and a half hours； going at full gallop all the way； in a four…horse wagote。 There were five of us； the Chief； Mr。 Shepstone （Secretary for Native Affairs）； Napier Broome （Colonial Secretary）； Beaumont and myself。 Some of the scenery was very fine； but we were so choked by the dust； which was so thick that you could not see the road beneath you； that we did not much enjoy it。 Our guard of honour did not improve matters。
When we got near Maritzburg crowds of people rode out to meet us； and we entered in grand style amidst loud hurrahs。 We galloped up to Government House； where the regiment was drawn up on the lawn； and as soon as the carriage stopped the band struck up “God save the Queen” and salutes were fired from the fort。 Then all the grandees of Maritzburg came forward and paid their respects to the Governor； and at last we were left alone to clean ourselves as best we could。
The Government House is a very pretty building； not nearly so large as the Cape Government House； but far from small。 I； who have to look after it； find it too large。 I have a large bedroom upstairs and my office in the Executive Council chamber。 The day after we arrived the swearing…in ceremony was held； in a room where the Legislative Council sit in the Public Offices building。 It was a very swell ceremony indeed； and I had to go through an extraordinary amount of scraping and bowing； presenting and pocketing； or trying to pocket； enormous addresses； missions； etc。； etc。 After it followed a levee； which tried my patience considerably； for these people came so thick and fast that I had no time to decipher their； for the most part； infamously written cards； so I had to shout out their names at haphazard。 However； that came to an end too at last； and we drove off amidst loud hurrahs。
I am at last clear on one point： I am not private secretary。 The Chief was talking the other night to Beaumont about me and told him he had a very good opinion of me and thought I should do very well； but that he had always intended to have an older man to help him at first； though who it is going to be does not seem clear。 He wants somebody who can go and talk to all these people as a man of their own standing； which I cannot do。 He also wants someone who has some experience of this sort of work。 I am not in the least disappointed； indeed now that I see something of the place； and of the turbulent character of its inhabitants； I should have much wondered if he had made a fellow young as I am private secretary。 Putting the money out of the question I would infinitely rather be rid of the responsibility； at any rate at present。 I am sorry； very sorry； still to be dependent on my father； but you may be sure； my dear Mother； that I will be as moderate as I can。 At any rate I shall cost less than if I had been at home。 I hav