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t。 There will of course be a terrible outcry about gore。 I never read such a book。 It is frightful； and the only justification for it is the fact that it is history； not imagination。 Wherever it is possible I would tone down the effect rather than heighten it； so as to avoid the charge of wallowing or gloating as far as possible。 The wolves and the wolf brethren are delightful； I wish you could have given us more of them。 I was very glad to meet our old friend Umslopogaas as a boy。
These two letters are from Sir Theophilus Shepstone to whom the work was dedicated。 The first is headed Durban； Natal； August 18； 1891。
My dear Haggard； — I was very； very glad to see your handwriting again in a note addressed to me。 For I know not how long past； I have never thought of you without a pang of conscience； and I need not say that I have often and often thought of you； and felt proud of you； and rejoiced at your success。
The truth is that for a time I had always the intention in my mind of writing to you； but I thought that a short note would not be worth sending； so the doing of it was postponed from one time to another until at last the difficulty became insuperable apparently； for I could scarcely hope that after so long a silence and seeming indifference any letter from me could be wele。 Your kind note and still kinder proposal； however； clear all that unfortable feeling away； and I am pleased accordingly to find that after all you bear no ill…will。 Of course I shall take it as a great pliment and a gracious and christian way of turning the other cheek to be smitten if you carry out your proposal to dedicate your new Zulu novel to me。 If I had known that you were engaged upon such a work I might have helped you with materials。 。 。 。 But when I saw that you were oscillating between the North and South Poles； calling at Cairo and dallying a bit at the Equator in your erratic course I concluded that your interest in these parts had ceased 。 。 。 。
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 �