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ould get； and when they had settled and sweetened by the generated heat； we sold them to the purchasers； usually missariat officers who carted them away。 I suppose they were satisfied with the stuff； as they always came back for more。 Or perhaps they could get nothing else。
Further； we grew mealies or Indian corn； but here the trouble was that stray cattle and horses would break in at night and eat them。
Such is a rough outline of our various agricultural and other operations on the Rooipoint farm。 Personally they form my pleasantest recollections of the place； though； were I to start again； I would not have so many irons in the fire。 On the whole we made a good deal of money； though our outgoings and losses were also heavy。 To farm successfully in Natal requires； or required； much capital and； owing to the poor quality of the Kaffir labour； incessant personal supervision。 These Kaffirs； however； who were most of them our tenants； were in many ways our best friends； moreover they afforded us constant amusement when they were not engaged in driving us mad by their carelessness。
I remember one of them breaking the best dinner dish and calmly bringing the pieces to my wife。 “I have collected and carried these fragments to the Inkosikaas （head lady）；” he explained with a sweet smile； “that the Inkosikaas； being clever like all the white people； may cause them to join themselves together again。”
The Inkosikaas surveyed him and them with speechless indignation。 When； however； some of the family silver — I think it was spoons — was missed and ultimately found in the stable dust…heap； and when the best new table knives were discovered being used by Mazooku and his friends to dissect a decaying ox that had died of lung sickness； her indignation was no longer speechless。 Indeed the offenders fled before her。
Of course these Zulus gave everybody a native name。 My wife they called by a word which meant “a pretty white bead with a pink eye；” while Gibbs was designated by a descriptive title； anglice “a worn…out old cow who would have no more calves。” I cannot recollect whether anyone； even Stephen； dared to give to her an unBowdlerised rendering of this not too plimentary appellation。 Certainly I avoided doing so。 Poor Gibbs！ Her trials in that strange land were many。 Still we brought her safe home to England； where she remained in our service for a year or two； then left and vanished away as modern domestics do。 I wonder whether she still lives； and if so； where she is spending her old age！
Before we left Hilldrop we had a great sale of our imported furniture； of which the catalogue survives to this day。 It was a highly successful sale； since such articles were then rare at Newcastle。 Thus I think a grand piano； which I had bought second…hand for 40 pounds in England； fetched 200 pounds； and the other things went at proportionately good prices。 Only the “pany” got hold of all the stock of wine which was exposed upon the verandah and therein drank our healths； whereon the watchful auctioneers knocked it down to 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 with Cetewayo or his white neighbours。
At length I was faced with the alternative of putting the results of my labours into the fire or of paying for their production in book form。 A letter from Trubner and Co。； dated May 18； 1882； informs me that my MS。 will make a volume of three hundred and twenty pages “like enclosed specimen；” and “if you of 50 pounds sterling we will undertake to produce an edition of seven hundred and fifty copies。”
I sent the cheque； although at the time I could ill afford it； and in due course the work appeared。 On the whole it was extremely well received by such papers as chose to review it seriously。 Some of these notices I still possess； favourable and unfavourable。 One from the Daily News； which es under the latter category； dated August 23； 1882； is amusing to read today。 It is written in the “high sarcastic” strain。 Here is a sentence from it。
Mr。 Haggard distrusts Cetewayo and is shocked at the notion of reinstating him on any terms。 He is also shocked at the “retrocession of the Transvaal” and thinks we have not yet seen the end of the troubles in store for us； owing to our neglect to persevere in the work of exterminating the Boers； and so forth。 These views have already been pretty fully set forth — so fully； in fact； that the necessity for a further exposition of them at this time does not seem very obvious。 The freshest； and certainly the most amusing thing in Mr。 Haggard’s book is his solemn warning that our policy； which he is pleased to stigmatise as “sentimental；” may end in alienating the affections of “the Colonists；” etc。
Here we see the party politics of the day at their best； or rather at their worst。 The late Lord Carnarvon； who； it may be remembered； was Colonial Secretary during most of the years when I was intimately connected with South Africa； wrote to me：
“I am glad to find that my view as regards the Transvaal should be endorsed by one who had such good opportunities of judging as yourself”； and again：
Private。
Dear Mr。 Haggard； — I a