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oo much for him； and he drifted back to South Africa； where not long afterwards he died。 I do not think that his departure from the world grieved him very much； for in addition to the loss of his son Jack； my ward； he was called upon to endure other heavy sorroed his religious views； but I remember that one night； when I was talking to him on such matters； he stretched out his arm and clasped a handful from the swarm of white ants that were flying past us。 “What is the difference between us and these？” he asked with a little laugh； and let them go again。 By the way； I may mention he was the origin of my character Alston in “The Witch’s Head。” Dear old “Mali…mat” — that was his Kaffir name； which means； I believe； “so much money” — shrewd； kindly； honourable； the truest of friends； the bravest of men； surely you； if any do； belong to that class which Pope defined as the noblest work of God。
Osborn was a great believer in the virtue of the raw Kaffir。 Thus； when he was magistrate of Newcastle； he did not hesitate to send down from Newcastle to Maritzburg； two hundred miles away； the total sum of the hut tax collected in his district — which； if I remember rightly； amounted to one or two thousand pounds — tied in gold…filled belts about the middle of some of his native policemen。 The fact about the Kaffirs； and especially the Zulu Kaffirs； is； or was； that those whom they love and respect may trust them to the death； whereas those whom they despise or hate cannot lend them sixpence with safety or believe their word about the smallest matter。 Their absolute fidelity to duty is well exemplified in the following story which Sir Theophilus Shepstone told me when we were travelling together over the Biggarsberg。
Once he had occasion in winter…time to send two Zulu messengers over these mountains with despatches for Maritzburg。 They were caught in a snowstorm without coats； whereon the man who carried the despatch…bag； feeling the approach of death； handed it to his rade and bade him proceed。 He himself crept into an ant…bear hole to die。 As it happened； however； the warmth of his body in the hole kept him alive； and when he woke up in the morning the sun was shining。 He emerged and； following on the road； presently found his panion dead and stiff。 Taking the despatch…bag from the body he proceeded on his journey； and in due course delivered it in Maritzburg。
Among my letters of this period are two from Judge Kotze。 In one of these； which is dated June 17； 1880； the Judge plains bitterly of the placing of De Wet； the Recorder of Kimberley； over his head as Chief Justice； a very harsh step； the reason of which I never quite understood； as Kotze was undoubtedly an excellent lawyer and an upright Judge。 After some political remarks he says：
By the by； you speak of seeking employment in the Civil Service out here。 Abandon the idea and take the following suggestion into careful consideration。 Why not read for the Bar？ You have a splendid opening in the Cape Colony or at the Diamond Fields。 It will take you not more than three years； and by working honestly from six to eight hours per day you will have no difficulty in turning out a first…rate man in three years。 Give it your serious attention。 You have a certain prospect of a judgeship； and will without much difficulty get into the Cape Parliament。 Mrs。 Haggard will be pleased with Grahamstown （which I would remend in preference to Cape Town）； and you will have a fine and thoroughly independent career before you。 。 。 。 Pretoria is no longer what it was。 The place is unbearable。 Everybody at loggerheads with Government and his neighbours； and the contractors in the meantime making fortunes。
Kotze’s advice was sound； and today I wish that I had taken it； or rather sometimes I think I do。 What chiefly stood in my way； however； was my agreement with Cochrane； whom I did not like to desert； although he generously offered to release me。 Also I wished to be up and doing； and did not like the idea of those three years of parative inaction which would have prevented me from earning anything more till I was twenty…seven。 Still I was destined to be called to the English Bar after all； as I hope to tell in due course。
Here I will end my story during the year and a half or so that I was absent from South Africa； and pass on to the sad tale of the Retrocession of the Transvaal。
Chapter 8 OUR LIFE AT NEWCASTLE
H。 R。 H。 and wife sail for Natal — Farm near Transvaal — Maritzburg — Dinner at Government House — Started for Newcastle — Adventures on journey — Hilldrop — Boer revolt — Natal invaded — Majuba and Colley’s death — Work on farm — Royal mission — Sir Hercules Robinson President — Hilldrop let to Sir Hercules and staff — Birth of H。 R。 H。‘s son — President Brand and Sir H。 de Villiers — Retrocession of Transvaal — Popular indignation — Farming — Return home — Mazooku。
My wife and I with two servants； a Norfolk groom of the name of Stephen — I forget his surname — who； a little touched up； appears as Job in my book “She；” and a middle…aged woman named Gibbs who had been my wife’s maid before marriage； three dogs； two parrots； and a “spider” carriage； which was built to my special order in Norwich； left England somewhere towards the end of 1880。 I think that we reached Natal before Christmas； and were greeted with the news of the Bronker’s Spruit massacre； for I can call it by no other name。 In short； we found that the Transvaal was in open rebellion。
It was indeed a pleasant situation。 Newcastle； whither we desired to proceed； lies very near the Transvaal border； and the question was； Did I dare to take my wife thither？ For some weeks we remained in Maritzburg； staying part of the time with Sir Theophilus and Lady Shepstone； and the rest in an hotel。 Literally I was at my wits’ end to know what to do。 To advance seemed too risky； to remain where we were was both wearisome and； with our servants； ruinously expensive。
At length my wife； who； I think； take her altogether； is the most courageous woman I ever met； announced that she would have no more of it： her house was at Newcastle two hundred miles away； and； Boers or no Boers； thither she would go。 There were rumours that Sir George Colley； who was then the Governor and mander…inChief of Natal； intended to attack the passes of the Drakensberg with the few troops at his disposal。 Nobody believed it； since the thing was so obviously a madness。 But I was not so sure。 I went to Colonel （afterwards Sir Charles） Mitchell； the Colonial Secretary； and asked him in confidence if he knew anything。 He replied — Nothing； but that I might be quite certain that so distinguished a soldier would never act foolishly。
So I bought two good horses — which afterwards died of the sickness — harnessed them to the “spider；” and we started。
I think it was on the night before Colley left Maritzburg to take personal mand of the troops at Newcastle that my wife and I dined at Government House。 If so； this historical dinner took place on January 9； 1881。 I believe that there were thirteen of us at table； though on this point I am not absolutely clear； of whom three were ladies — Lady Colley； another lady whose name I forget； and my wife。 The other guests were officers and the members of Colley’s staff。 The only name that I can remember is that of young Elwes； who within a week or two was to die charging the Boer schanzes and shouting “Floreat Etona！” I sat next to him at table。
My wife reminds me of an absurd little incident that happened at this dinner。 Elwes； I think； was A。D。C。 to Colley； and one of his duties — it used to be mine when I was on the Governor’s staff in the same house — was to write the menus in French。 One of the items of fare recorded by him was pates de mince。 In a silence such as happens at dinner…parties； Lady Colley was heard saying from the end of the table：
“Mr。 Elwes； what are pates de mince？ I never heard of a dish called pates de mince！” whereon everyone turned and looked at Elwes。
“Pates de mince； Lady Colley；” he stammered presently； his youthful face covered with blushes； “is the French for mince…pies。”
Poor Elwes！ He did not hear the last of his pates de mince during that meal。 Thus do farce and tragedy often walk hand in hand。
In a few months’ time Lady Colley； the other lady； my wife and I were the sole survivors of that dinner…party。 The other lady died shortly afterwards。 About the year 1888 my wife and I were guests at a dinner given by the late Anthony Froude。 Lady Colley； as she was then； was another of the guests。 Thus we three survivors of that fatal Government House dinner met again。 When Lady Colley recognised us she burst into tears； and my wife was obliged to stand over her to screen her grief from observation。
Here are some extracts from a letter written by my wife to my father from the little town of Estcourt； and dated January 19； 1881 — nearly thirty…one years ago。
We have at last summoned up courage to start up…country in spite of the Boers； the real fact being that we were getting dreadfully tired of doing nothing down in Maritzburg； which was besides most fearfully hot。 We got to our first stage； Howick； last Friday； which luckily for us was a very pretty