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I have been for some time past very unwell； and two months ago they sent me down here for change of air。 I am not to go back till the end of this month or the beginning of next。 Meanwhile the change is doing me great good； and I feel better and stronger than I have felt for several years。 I had begun to lose a great deal of interest in passing events； and felt unable to enjoy much of life； but all this has now changed for the better； I am glad to say。 。 。 。 If ever you have a moment to spare I should be glad； so glad； to hear how the friends are who were so kind to me at your good old father’s house。 I am glad you had an opportunity of talking to old Osborn。 He is expected to arrive here in a day or two； and I shall have the chance of hearing from him all about you。 I am very proud of my Transvaal colleagues； every one of them has distinguished himself in one way or another。 Captain James and Fynney； poor fellows； have； as the Zulus say； “gone beyond。” I always feel indebted to you all for your loyal support and zealous fellow…working in the Transvaal。 This mail brought me with your letter one from the editor of Greater Britain； calling my attention to an article in the July number of that periodical entitled “Many Lands； One People” and asking my views upon it。 I shall write him a very short answer； for I am sorry to say I am as yet unable to see anything practical in the proposals of Imperial Federation。 I am afraid you will think me old…fashioned and heterodox； but I cannot as yet see anything stronger than the bond which ties the members of a family together。 Love to you both from yours always sincerely；
T。 Shepstone。
In due course the dedication was finished and sent。 Charles Longman always thought it one of the best things I had ever written； and； when I told him the other day that I was engaged upon this task； he especially asked me to insert it here。 Therefore I do so。
DEDICATION
Sompseu：
For I will call you by the name that for fifty years has been honoured by every tribe between the Zambesi and Cape Agulhas； — I greet you！
Sompseu； my father； I have written a book that tells of men and matters of which you know the most of any who still look upon the light； therefore； I set your name within that book and； such as it is； I offer it to you。
If you knew not Chaka； you and he have seen the same suns shine； you knew his brother Panda and his captains； and perhaps even that very Mopo who tells this tale； his servant； who slew him with the Princes。 You have seen the circle of the witch…doctors and the unconquerable Zulu impis rushing to war； you have crowned their kings and shared their counsels； and with your son’s blood you have expiated a statesman’s error and a general’s fault。
Sompseu； a song has been sung in my ears of how first you mastered this people of the Zulu。 Is it not true； my father； that for long hours you lay silent and alone； while three thousand warriors shouted for your life？ And when they grew weary； did you not stand and say； pointing towards the ocean： “Kill me if you wish； men of Cetywayo； but I tell you that for every drop of my blood a hundred avengers shall rise from yonder sea！”
Then； so it was told me； the regiments turned staring towards the Black Water； as though the day of Ulundi had already e and they saw the white slayers creeping across the plains。
Thus； Sompseu； your name became great among the people of the Zulu； as already it was great among many another tribe； and their nobles did you homage； and they gave you the Bayete； the royal salute； declaring by the mouth of their Council that in you dwelt the spirit of Chaka。
Many years have gone by since then； and now you are old； my father。 It is many years even since I was a boy； and followed you when you went up among the Boers and took their country for the Queen。
Why did you do this； my father？ I will answer； who know the truth。 You did it because； had it not been done； the Zulus would have stamped out the Boers。 Were not Cetywayo’s impis gathered against the land； and was it not because it became the Queen’s land that at your word he sent them murmuring to their kraals？ To save bloodshed you annexed the country beyond the Vaal。 Perhaps it had been better to leave it； since “Death chooses for himself；” and after all there was killing — of our own people； and with the killing； shame。 But in those days we did not guess what we should live to see； and of Majuba we thought only as a little hill。
Enemies have borne false witness against you on this matter； Sompseu； you who never erred except through over kindness。 Yet what does that avail？ When you have “gone beyond” it will be forgotten； since the sting of ingratitude passes and lies must wither like the winter veldt。 Only your name will not be forgotten； as it was heard in life so it shall be heard in story； and I pray that； however humbly； mine may pass down with it。 Chance has taken me by another path； and I must leave the ways of action that I love and bury myself in books； but the old days and friends are in my mind； nor while I have memory shall I forget them and you。
Therefore； though it be for the last time； from far across the seas I speak to you； and lifting my hand I give you your “Sibonga”18 and that royal salute； to which； now that its kings are gone and the “People of Heaven” are no more a nation； with Her Majesty you are alone entitled：
Bayete！ Baba； Nkosi ya makosi！
Ngonyama！ Indhlovu ai pendulwa！
Wen’ o wa vela wasi pata！
Wen’ o was hlul’ izizwe zonke za patwa nguive！
Wa geina nge la Mabun’ o wa ba hlul’ u yedwa！
Umsizi we zintandane e zihlupekayo！
Si ya kuleka Baba！
Bayete； T’Sompseu！19
and farewell！
H。 Rider Haggard。
To Sir Theophilus Shepstone； K。C。M。G。； Natal。
13th September 1891。
18 Titles of praise。
19 Bayete； Father； Chief of Chiefs！
Lion！ Elephant that is not turned！
You who nursed us from of old！
You who overshadowed all peoples and took charge of them；
And ended by mastering the Boers with your single strength！
Help of the fatherless when in trouble！
Salutation to you； Father！
Bayete； O Sompseu！
Here is the touching letter in which Sir Theophilus acknowledges it。 It is bound up with the manuscript of “Nada；” and is the last that I ever received from him； for he died during the following year。
Durban； Natal： July 13； 1892。
My dear Haggard； — Your gift reached me when I was very seedy and unable to do much in the writing way。 I have e down here for change from the cold of Maritzburg； and am much better。
I need not say how gratifying to me that gift was； nor how deeply touching to me the kind words of the Dedication were。 Indeed you give far more credit than I am entitled to。 Your kindly expressions； however； vividly brought to mind a whole chapter of the pleasant past between us； the exact counterpart of which will； I suppose； never occur to any other two。 I feel extremely grateful to you for your affectionate remembrances； and for your plucky avowal of them； for I do not think that at present it is fashionable to look either upon myself or my work with much approval。
I cannot； however； help thinking that if some of my views and advice had been acted on we should have avoided both the national disaster and disgrace that took place after the “pleasant past” that you and I spent together in the Transvaal。
The Boers did not really want to fight； and we are always pusillanimous enough before we make up our minds to begin； so we did not want to fight either； but it appears that the Home Government did want to undo the annexation。 Nothing could have been done more easily； or have looked more gracious to those concerned。 Why not have plainly told me their wish and authorised me to carry it out？ We should have parted with embraces and the best of mutual good feeling； as it is we have earned the contempt as well as the hatred of the Boers； and very much puzzled the native races； who from considering us their staunchest and most powerful protectors have e to look upon us as the most unreliable of friends。 And very good cause they have for their change of view： look at the last twelve or fourteen years’ history of Zululand。 But I did not want to go into polemics。 As the Zulus would say； it is only my way of think