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in Natal。 In five years Natal will be to this country what Ireland is to England。 To begin with； the Transvaal is more than six times its size。 If the Transvaal at all realises what is expected of it； it will before long； with its natural wealth and splendid climate； be one of the most splendid foreign possessions of the British Crown； and if as is probable gold is discovered in large quantities； it may take a sudden rush forward； and then one will be borne up with it。 So that whatever happens I think that I shall always do pretty well here。 However； my aim is of course to rise to the position of a Colonial Governor； and to do that I must trust to good fortune and my interest。 I may； or I may not； according to circumstances。 At any rate I have now got my foot on the first rung of the Colonial ladder； and D。V。 I intend to climb it。 Whether I have done better than I should have done by first reading for the Bar I do not know： there is much to be said on both sides。 The great thing is that I am now independent and shall； I hope； put you to no more expense or trouble； of both of which I am afraid I have given you too much already。
This brings me to the subject of money。 I am very sorry to see from your letter that I have overdrawn to the amount of 25 pounds。 I must have miscalculated； as I was under the impression that sum made up the 200 pounds。 I believe however that if you think it over you will not consider that I have been very extravagant。 You always calculated that the 200 pounds would last two years； and it is nearly two years since I left England （if I remember right it was this very day two years ago that I decided to e to Natal）。 I have had to draw more lately； owing to the heavy expenses I have had to meet in connection with this Mission。 Horses； arms and servants cannot be had for nothing； and I had to provide myself with all。 If I get any pay for this business that will at all enable me to do so I hope that you will allow me to remit the 25 pounds。 If not I fear I shall have to draw on you once more for 20 pounds in order to meet some debts which I must pay before the month is up in connection with the transhipping of my baggage to Cape Town and back； etc。 I shall be very sorry to put you to that expense； my dear Father； but I trust that it will be the last time I shall ever have to do so。 As to pay for this business； I live in hope。 I rather fear that the Chief may consider that the fact of accepting service under this Government may cancel all past debts； but still I shall have a shot for it。
June 5； 1877。
My dear Father； — I thanked the Chief the other day for the appointment； and he told me that he hoped it would be a good deal better soon； but that he was not sufficiently firm in his seat yet to make big appointments。
I don’t at all know how I am going to live here； and I fear that I shall be obliged to build a house。 Mr。 Osborn gave me a hint the other day that I should be wele to a room in his house when he gets settled。 He has not got a house yet： there are none to get。 The probabilities are that I shall stay in this country for many years； so I shall have to build something sooner or later。 It will be the cheapest way and by far the most fortable。 However I shall try to shift along for the present； live in a tent or something； until I hear about that money。 I hope that it is not saddled with conditions ＇this refers to a legacy of 500 pounds which had been left to me many years before by a godparent。 — H。 R。 H。＇。 The scarcity of money here is something extraordinary。 Till within a month or two； the few who had any lent it on security often three times the value of the sum lent； at the rate of 15 per cent。 per annum。 The Annexation has had a wonderful effect。 An “erf” or building side that would have sold for 40 pounds before is now valued at 130 pounds。
Ever your most affectionate and dutiful son；
H。 Rider Haggard。
To return to public affairs。 Ten days after our arrival at Pretoria from Secocoeni’s country the Transvaal was annexed to the British Crown。 Of the actual history of the events surrounding that annexation I purpose to say little； as I have already written a full and true account of it in my book； “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours。” On one point； however； I will touch。
On the 11th April； the day before the Annexation； Shepstone sent a message to Cetewayo； I myself saw the messenger despatched。 This message told the Zulu king of the rumours that had reached Pretoria as to his intention of attacking the Transvaal； and ordered him； if these were true — which they were — to disband his armies； as the Transvaal was about to bee the Queen’s land。 In due course came Cetewayo’s answer。 It is given in “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours；” and I will quote only a few lines here。
I thank my father Sompseu for his message。 I am glad that he has sent it because the Dutch have tired me out and I intended to fight them once and once only and to drive them over the Vaal。 Kabana ＇name of messenger＇； you see my impis ＇armies＇ are gathered。 It was to fight the Dutch I called them together； now I will send them back to their homes。
It is my firm and fixed belief that at this juncture no one except Shepstone could have prevented the Zulus from sweeping the Transvaal or； at any rate； from attempting to do so。
The great day came at length。 On April 12； 1877； at some time in the forenoon — I think it was about eleven o’clock — we； the members of the staff； marched down to the Market Square； where a crowd was assembled； Sir Theophilus remaining at the building which afterwards became Government House。 I do not remember that our little escort of twenty…five Mounted Police were with us。 They may have been； but I think it probable that they were left near the person of the Special missioner。 That there was a possibility of trouble we all knew； for many threats had been made； but in that event twenty…five policemen would not have helped us much。
Everything being arranged decently and in order； Osborn stepped forward and read the Proclamation； which was received with cheers by the crowd； that of course was largely posed of English folk or of those who were not unsympathetic。 After this ceremony was p