按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the drinkers at a high price per dozen。
So at last we bade farewell to Hilldrop； which neither of us ever has； nor I suppose ever will； see again except in dreams。 I remember feeling quite sad as we drove down the dusty track to Newcastle； and the familiar house； surrounded by its orange trees； grew dim and vanished from our sight。
There my son had been born； there I had undergone many emotions of a kind that help to make a man； there I had suffered the highest sort of shame； shame for my country； there； as I felt； one chapter in my eventful life had opened and had closed。 It was sad to part with the place； and also to bid good…bye to my Zulu servant Mazooku。 The poor fellow was moved at this parting； and gave me what probably he valued more than anything he possessed； the kerry that he had carried ever since he was a man — that same heavy； redwood instrument with which more than once I have seen him battering the head of some foe。 It hangs in the hall of this house； but where； I wonder； is Mazooku； who saved my life when I was lost upon the veld？ Living； perhaps； in some kraal； and thinking from time to time of his old master Indanda； of e vague rumours may have reached him。 If so； were I to revisit Africa today； I have not the faintest doubt but that he would reappear。 I should go out of my hotel and see a grey…headed man squatted on the roadside who would arise； lift up his arm； salute me； and say； “Inkoos Indanda； you are here； I am here； e back to serve you。”
I have seen the thing done。 As a young man Sir William Sergeaunt was in South Africa — I forget how or when — and then had a Zulu servant； a Mazook。 He departed and thirty years later returned。 His Mazook appeared from some kraal； of which he was then the head； and was with him during all his stay。 I saw him there。
Or if my Mazook should be dead； as well he may be； and if there is any future for us mortals； and if Zulus and white men go to the same place — as why should they not？ — then I am quite certain that when I reach that shore I shall see a square…faced； dusky figure seated on it； and hear the words； “Inkoos Indanda； here am I； Mazooku； who once was your man； waiting to serve you。” For such is the nature of the poor despised Zulu； at any rate towards him whom he may chance to love。
I do not know that I felt anything more in leaving Africa than the saying of good…bye to this loving； half…wild man。 I remember that I made him some present when we parted — I think it was a cow； but am not sure。
On Wednesday； the 31st of August； from the deck of the Dunkeld； we saw the shores of Natal recede from our sight for ever。
Chapter 9
Return to England — Called to Bar — Wrote “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours” — Reception of the work — Why H。 R。 H。 took to writing fiction — “Dawn” — J。 Cordy Jeaffreson — Press notices encouraging but sales small at first — “The Witch’s Head” — Quiet life at Ditchingham — Letters from Shepstone — Life in London — Practice in Divorce Court。
On our return to England in the autumn of 1881 we went to stay at Bradenham for a while and rested after our African adventures。 I do not remember anything that we did there； except that we were at the Sandringham ball。 A note in my wife’s diary mentions that the Princess； afterwards Queen Alexandra； “looked lovely in pearl grey satin and was the prettiest woman in the room with the exception of Lady Lonsdale。”
Before Christmas we moved to a furnished house at Norwood。 Here； having all my way still to make in the world； I set to work in earnest。 First of all I entered myself at Lincoln’s Inn； but found to my disgust that before I could do so I was expected to pass an examination in Latin； English History and； I think； Arithmetic。 My Latin I had practically forgotten； and my English History dates were somewhat to seek。 I represented to the Benchers that； after having filled the office of Master of the High Court of the Transvaal； this entrance examination was perhaps superfluous； but they were obdurate on the matter。 So I set to work and； with the assistance of a crammer； in a month learned more Latin than I had done all the time I was at school； indeed； at the end of a few weeks I could read Caesar fluently and Virgil not so ill。 The end of it was that I passed the examination at the head of the batch who went up with me； or so I was given to understand。
Another thing that I did was to write my first book； “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours； or Remarks on Recent Events in Zululand； Natal and the Transvaal。” It contained about two hundred and fifty closely printed pages in the first of its editions； and represented a great amount of labour。 I was determined that it should be accurate； and to ensure this I purchased all the Blue…books dealing with the period of which I was treating； and made precis of them； some of which I still possess。
But it is one thing for an unknown person to write a book of this character； and quite another for him to persuade anyone to publish it。 I find among my papers a pencil draft of a letter which I sent to many publishers。 It runs：
I write to inquire if you are inclined to undertake the publication of a short work I am now finishing。 It is the result of some six years’ experience in South Africa in official and private capacities； and contains amongst other things a private history of the annexation of the Transvaal which； as I was on Sir T。 Shepstone’s staff at the time； I am qualified to write。
The parts of the book； however； which would； I think； ensure the sale at the present moment； both here and in the Colonies； are the chapters dealing with the proposed grant of responsible government to Natal and the question of the reinstatement of Cetewayo。 As you are no doubt aware； the ex…king will visit England very shortly； when I think an opportunely published work on the subject would find a ready sale。
The book is written in as interesting a style as I can mand and would be published under my own name。
Awaiting the favour of a reply；
I am； etc。
Needless to say the reply always came； but notwithstanding the tempting bait of “the interesting style；” its character may be guessed。 Nobody wished to have anything to do either