the days of my life-第11部分

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Government　House；
Pretoria；　Transvaal：　June　1；　1877。
My　dear　Father；　—　I　have　to　acknowledge　your　two　letters　dated　respectively　27th　March　and　the　4th　April。　I　do　not　think　that　it　will　be　of　any　good　to　dwell　any　more　on　what　is　to　me；　in　some　ways　at　least；　a　rather　painful　subject　。　。　。　。
I　received　today　my　letter　of　appointment　as　English　Clerk　to　the　Colonial　Secretary’s　Office　with　a　salary　of　250　pounds　per　annum。　I　have　not　yet　got　my　appointment　as　Clerk　to　the　Executive　Council；　which　will　be　worth　nominally　100　pounds　per　annum；　but　in　reality　only　50　pounds。　It　was　to　have　been　gazetted　tomorrow　with　the　other；　but　the　Chief　thought　it　better　to　wait。　However；　unless　something　occurs；　I　shall　get　it　before　long；　as　soon　as　there　is　an　Executive　to　be　Clerk　to。　The　reason　that　50　pounds　is　to　be　knocked　off　is　that　it　is　not　desirable　to　give　offence　by　making　my　pay　higher　than　that　of　any　other　clerk　in　the　service；　and　though　virtually　I　shall　stand　first　on　the　list；　it　is　thought　better　that　I　should　not　be　nominally　either　under　or　over　the　one　or　ty　position　as　“English　Clerk”　will　be　a　perfectly　independent　one。　The　English　work　of　the　office　will　be　in　my　hands；　and　as　it　now　far　more　than　equals　the　Dutch　and　will　increase　day　by　day；　of　course　it　is　the　most　important　part　of　the　business　and　will　soon　swamp　the　other。
The　reason　of　the　delay　in　my　appointment　is　that　there　has　been　a　difference　of　opinion　about　it　between　the　Chief　and　Mr。　Osborn；　who　is　to　be　Colonial　Secretary　and　consequently　my　Head　of　Department　and；　under　the　Governor；　of　the　whole　service。　The　Chief　wished　me　to　stop　on　with　him　as　Despatch　Clerk　with　the　same　salary；　and　Obsorn　wanted　me　in　his　office。　In　the　end　they　promised　it：　my　appointment　is　made　out　as　above；　and　when　I　am　wanted　at　Government　House　I　am　to　go　there。　On　the　whole　I　would　rather　have　it　as　it　is；　for　the　work　will　be　more　interesting　though　harder；　and　the　position；　on　the　whole；　better。
So　much　for　the　appointment　itself；　now　as　regards　its　future　probable　or　possible　results。　。　。　。　It　is　far　better　to　take　service　here　than　in　Natal。　In　five　years　Natal　will　be　to　this　country　what　Ireland　is　to　England。　To　begin　with；　the　Transvaal　is　more　than　six　times　its　size。　If　the　Transvaal　at　all　realises　what　is　expected　of　it；　it　will　before　long；　with　its　natural　wealth　and　splendid　climate；　be　one　of　the　most　splendid　foreign　possessions　of　the　British　Crown；　and　if　as　is　probable　gold　is　discovered　in　large　quantities；　it　may　take　a　sudden　rush　forward；　and　then　one　will　be　borne　up　with　it。　So　that　whatever　happens　I　think　that　I　shall　always　do　pretty　well　here。　However；　my　aim　is　of　course　to　rise　to　the　position　of　a　Colonial　Governor；　and　to　do　that　I　must　trust　to　good　fortune　and　my　interest。　I　may；　or　I　may　not；　according　to　circumstances。　At　any　rate　I　have　now　got　my　foot　on　the　first　rung　of　the　Colonial　ladder；　and　D。V。　I　intend　to　climb　it。　Whether　I　have　done　better　than　I　should　have　done　by　first　reading　for　the　Bar　I　do　not　know：　there　is　much　to　be　said　on　both　sides。　The　great　thing　is　that　I　am　now　independent　and　shall；　I　hope；　put　you　to　no　more　expense　or　trouble；　of　both　of　which　I　am　afraid　I　have　given　you　too　much　already。
This　brings　me　to　the　subject　of　money。　I　am　very　sorry　to　see　from　your　letter　that　I　have　overdrawn　to　the　amount　of　25　pounds。　I　must　have　miscalculated；　as　I　was　under　the　impression　that　sum　made　up　the　200　pounds。　I　believe　however　that　if　you　think　it　over　you　will　not　consider　that　I　have　been　very　extravagant。　You　always　calculated　that　the　200　pounds　would　last　two　years；　and　it　is　nearly　two　years　since　I　left　England　（if　I　remember　right　it　was　this　very　day　two　years　ago　that　I　decided　to　e　to　Natal）。　I　have　had　to　draw　more　lately；　owing　to　the　heavy　expenses　I　have　had　to　meet　in　connection　with　this　Mission。　Horses；　arms　and　servants　cannot　be　had　for　nothing；　and　I　had　to　provide　myself　with　all。　If　I　get　any　pay　for　this　business　that　will　at　all　enable　me　to　do　so　I　hope　that　you　will　allow　me　to　remit　the　25　pounds。　If　not　I　fear　I　shall　have　to　draw　on　you　once　more　for　20　pounds　in　order　to　meet　some　debts　which　I　must　pay　before　the　month　is　up　in　connection　with　the　transhipping　of　my　baggage　to　Cape　Town　and　back；　etc。　I　shall　be　very　sorry　to　put　you　to　that　expense；　my　dear　Father；　but　I　trust　that　it　will　be　the　last　time　I　shall　ever　have　to　do　so。　As　to　pay　for　this　business；　I　live　in　hope。　I　rather　fear　that　the　Chief　may　consider　that　the　fact　of　accepting　service　under　this　Government　may　cancel　all　past　debts；　but　still　I　shall　have　a　shot　for　it。
June　5；　1877。
My　dear　Father；　—　I　thanked　the　Chief　the　other　day　for　the　appointment；　and　he　told　me　that　he　hoped　it　would　be　a　good　deal　better　soon；　but　that　he　was　not　sufficiently　firm　in　his　seat　yet　to　make　big　appointments。
I　don’t　at　all　know　how　I　am　going　to　live　here；　and　I　fear　that　I　shall　be　obliged　to　build　a　house。　Mr。　Osborn　gave　me　a　hint　the　other　day　that　I　should　be　wele　to　a　room　in　his　house　when　he　gets　settled。　He　has　not　got　a　house　yet：　there　are　none　to　get。　The　probabilities　are　that　I　shall　stay　in　this　country　for　many　years；　so　I　shall　have　to　build　something　sooner　or　later。　It　will　be　the　cheapest　way　and　by　far　the　most　fortable。　However　I　shall　try　to　shift　along　for　the　present；　live　in　a　tent　or　something；　until　I　hear　about　that　money。　I　hope　that　it　is　not　saddled　with　conditions　＇this　refers　to　a　legacy　of　500　pounds　which　had　been　left　to　me　many　years　before　by　a　godparent。　—　H。　R。　H。＇。　The　scarcity　of　money　here　is　something　extraordinary。　Till　within　a　month　or　two；　the　few　who　had　any　lent　it　on　security　often　three　times　the　value　of　the　sum　lent；　at　the　rate　of　15　per　cent。　per　annum。　The　Annexation　has　had　a　wonderful　effect。　An　“erf”　or　building　side　that　would　have　sold　for　40　pounds　before　is　now　valued　at　130　pounds。
Ever　your　most　affectionate　and　dutiful　son；
H。　Rider　Haggard。
To　return　to　public　affairs。　Ten　days　after　our　arrival　at　Pretoria　from　Secocoeni’s　country　the　Transvaal　was　annexed　to　the　British　Crown。　Of　the　actual　history　of　the　events　surrounding　that　annexation　I　purpose　to　say　little；　as　I　have　already　written　a　full　and　true　account　of　it　in　my　book；　“Cetewayo　and　his　White　Neighbours。”　On　one　point；　however；　I　will　touch。
On　the　11th　April；　the　day　before　the　Annexation；　Shepstone　sent　a　message　to　Cetewayo；　I　myself　saw　the　messenger　despatched。　This　message　told　the　Zulu　king　of　the　rumours　that　had　reached　Pretoria　as　to　his　intention　of　attacking　the　Transvaal；　and　ordered　him；　if　these　were　true　—　which　they　were　—　to　disband　his　armies；　as　the　Transvaal　was　about　to　bee　the　Queen’s　land。　In　due　course　came　Cetewayo’s　answer。　It　is　given　in　“Cetewayo　and　his　White　Neighbours；”　and　I　will　quote　only　a　few　lines　here。
I　thank　my　father　Sompseu　for　his　message。　I　am　glad　that　he　has　sent　it　because　the　Dutch　have　tired　me　out　and　I　intended　to　fight　them　once　and　once　only　and　to　drive　them　over　the　Vaal。　Kabana　＇name　of　messenger＇；　you　see　my　impis　＇armies＇　are　gathered。　It　was　to　fight　the　Dutch　I　called　them　together；　now　I　will　send　them　back　to　their　homes。
It　is　my　firm　and　fixed　belief　that　at　this　juncture　no　one　except　Shepstone　could　have　prevented　the　Zulus　from　sweeping　the　Transvaal　or；　at　any　rate；　from　attempting　to　do　so。
The　great　day　came　at　length。　On　April　12；　1877；　at　some　time　in　the　forenoon　—　I　think　it　was　about　eleven　o’clock　—　we；　the　members　of　the　staff；　marched　down　to　the　Market　Square；　where　a　crowd　was　assembled；　Sir　Theophilus　remaining　at　the　building　which　afterwards　became　Government　House。　I　do　not　remember　that　our　little　escort　of　twenty…five　Mounted　Police　were　with　us。　They　may　have　been；　but　I　think　it　probable　that　they　were　left　near　the　person　of　the　Special　missioner。　That　there　was　a　possibility　of　trouble　we　all　knew；　for　many　threats　had　been　made；　but　in　that　event　twenty…five　policemen　would　not　have　helped　us　much。
Everything　being　arranged　decently　and　in　order；　Osborn　stepped　forward　and　read　the　Proclamation；　which　was　received　with　cheers　by　the　crowd；　that　of　course　was　largely　posed　of　English　folk　or　of　those　who　were　not　unsympathetic。　After　this　ceremony　was　pleted　the　ex…President　Burgers’　formal　protest；　of　which　the　draft　had　already　been　submitted　to　the　missioner　and　approved　by　him；　was　also　read；　and　received　respectfully　but　in　silence。　The　text　of　these　historical　documents　can　be　studied　in　the　Blue…books　of　the　day；　if　anybody　ever　reads　an　old　Blue…book；　so　I　will　not　dwell　upon　them　here。
I　recall　that　after　everything　was　over　it　became　my　duty　to　deliver　copies　of　the　Proclamation；　and　of　another　document　under　which　Sir　Theophilus　assumed　the　office　of　Administrator　of　the　new　Government；　at　the　various　public　offices。　In　front　of　one　of　these　offices　—　I　remember　its　situation　but　not　which　one　of　them　it　was　—　was　gathered　a　crowd　of　sullen…looking　Boers　who　showed　no　disposition　to　let　me　pass　upon　my　business。　I　looked　at　them　and　they　looked　at　me。　I　advanced；　purposing　to　thrust　my　way　between　two　of　them；　and　as　still　they　would　not　let　me　pass　I　trod　upon　the　foot　of　one　of　them；　half　expecting　to　be　shot　as　I　did　so；　whereon　the　man　drew　back　and　let　me　go　about　my　duty。　It　was　insolent；　I　admit；　and　had　I　been　an　older　man　probably　I　should　have　withdrawn　and　left　the　Proclamation　undelivered。　But　I　do　not　think　that　the　incident　was　without　its　effect；　for　it　did　not　pass　unobserved。　I　was　but　one　young　fellow　facing　a　hostile　crowd　which　had　gathered　in　the　remoter　spaces　of　the　square；　but　for　the　moment　I　was　the　representative　of　England；　and　I　felt　that　if　I　recoiled　before　their　muttered　threats　and　oaths；　inferences　might　be　drawn。　Therefore　I　went　on。　Whatever　happened　to　me　I　was　determined　to　deliver　my　Proclamation　as　I　had　been　ordered　to　do；　or　to　fail　because　I　must。
My　colleague；　Major　Clarke；　had　to　deal　with　the　same　difficulty；　but　on　a　much　more　heroic　scale。　The　story　as　he　told　it　to　me　afterwards　is　as　follows。　He　was　sent　down　to　take　mand　of　the　filibustering　volunteers　at　Leydenburg。　Arriving　at　the　largest　fort　with　only　his　Zulu　servant；　Lanky　Boy；　for　an　aide…decamp；　he　at　once　ordered　the　Republican　flag　to　be　hauled　down　and　the　Union　Jack　to　be　hoisted；　which　order；　somewhat　to　his　astonishment；　was　promptly　obeyed。　A　day　or　two　afterwards；　however；　the　volunteers　repented　them　of　their　surrender；　and　arrived　in　his　tent　to　shoot　him。　Clarke　fixed　the　eyeglass　he　always　wore　in　his　eye；　looked　at　them　steadfastly　through　it；　waved　his　one　arm　and　remarked　in　his　rich　Irish　accent；　“You　are　all　drunk。　Go　away。”　So　they　went。
This　Lanky　Boy；　a　jolly；　open…faced　Kaffir；　was　a　good　stick　to　lean　on　at　a　pinch。　Once　two　natives　waylaid　Clarke；　but　Lanky　Boy　killed　them　both　and　saved　his　life。
After　the　Annexation　things　settled　down　rapidly；　and　when；　some　three　weeks　later；　the　1st　Battalion　of　the　13th　Regiment　marched　into　Pretoria　with　the　band　playing；　it　was　extremely　well　received　both　there　and　all　along　the　road。　On　May　24th；　Queen　Victoria’s　birthday；　the　British　flag　was　formally　hoisted　at　Pretoria　in　the　presence　of　a　large　gathering　of　English；　Boers　and　natives。　The　band　played　“God　save　the　Queen；”　the　artillery　boomed　a　salute；　and　at　midday　precisely；　amidst　the　cheers　of　the　crowd；　Colonel　Brooke；　R。E。；　and　I　ran　up　the　flag　to　the　head　of　the　lofty　staff。　I　think　that　Brooke　lifted　it　from　the　ground　and　broke　it　and　that　I　did　the　actual　hoisting；　but　of　these　details　I　am　not　quite　sure；　it　may　have　been　the　other　way　about。　In　view　of　what　followed　it　ought　to　have　stuck　half…way；　but　it　did　not。　It　was　a　proud　moment　for　me　and　for　all　of　us；　but　could　we　have　foreseen　what　was　to　happen　in　the　future　we　should　have　felt　less　jubilant。
In　one　of　the　newly　discovered　letters　to　my　mother；　written　from　Government　House；　Pretoria；　on　June　17；　1877；　I　find　an　allusion　to　this　hoisting　of　the　flag。　I　say：
We　have　Sir　A。　Cunynghame；　K。C。B。；　stopping　with　us　now；　he　starts　for　Leydenburg　next　Friday　for　shooting。　On　the　same　day　the　Chief　starts　for　Potchefstroom　and　Lichtenburg；　and　will　be　away　about　five　weeks。　Mr。　Henderson；　Chairman　of　the　Finance　mittee；　will　be　left　alone　with　myself　here。　It　will　be　a　melancholy　reduction　of　our　large　party。　We　are　now　awaiting　with　great　anxiety　to　hear　how　the　Annexation　has　been　received。　I　suppose　that　the　war9　has　drawn　most　of　the　attention　from　this　business。　It　will　be　some　years　before　people　at　home　realise　how　great　an　act　it　has　been；　an　act　without　parallel。　I　am　very　proud　of　having　been　connected　with　it。　Twenty　years　hence　it　will　be　a　great　thing　to　have　hoisted　the　Union　Jack　over　the　Transvaal　for　the　first　time。
My　absence；　which　I　remember　we　set　down　at　five　years　at　the　most；　is　likely　to　be　a　long　one　now；　my　dearest　Mother。　The　break　from　all　home　and　family　ties　and　the　sense　of　isolation　are　very　painful；　more　painful　than　those　who　have　never　tried　them　know。
Chapter　6　LIFE　IN　THE　TRANSVAAL
H。　R。　H。　appointed　Master　of　the　High　Court　at　age　of　twenty…one　—　Boers　very　litigious　—　Fleeced　by　lawyers　—　H。　R。　H。　reforms　practice　and　taxes　bills　—　Much　opposition　—　H。　R。　H。　supported　by　Judge　Kotze　—　Boer　revolt　expected　—　Zulu　War　threatened　—　H。　R。　H。　builds　house　with　Cochrane　—　Jess’s　cottage　—　Sir　Bartle　Frere　—　Zulu　War　—　Isandhlwana　—　Shepstone　returns　home　—　Treated　shabbily　by　Government　—　H。　R。　H。　joins　Pretoria　Horse　—　Elected　Adjutant　—　Ordered　to　Zululand　—　Orders　countermanded　—　Regiment　to　defend　Pretoria　against　possible　Boer　revolt　—　H。　R。　H。　sent　in　mand　of　detachment　to　watch　force　of　3000　Boers　—　Exciting　incidents　but　war　postponed　—　Sir　Bartle　Frere　at　Pretoria　—　Estimate　of　his　character　—　Anthony　Trollope　—　Journeys　on　circuit　with　Judge　Kotze　—　Herd　of　blesbuck　—　Pretoria　Horse　disbanded　—　H。　R。　H。　resigns　Mastership　of　High　Court　—　Buys　farm　in　Natal　with　Cochrane　to　breed　ostriches。
Not　very　long　after　the　Annexation　the　Master　and　Registrar　of　the　High　Court　died；　and　after　some　reflection　the　Government　appointed　me　to　act　in　his　place。　It　is　not　strange　that　they　should　have　hesitated；　seeing　that　I　was　barely　twenty…one　years　of　age　and　had　received　no　legal　training。　Moreover　in　those　days　the　office　was　one　of　great　importance。
To　put　it　mildly；　the　lawyers　who　frequented　the　Transvaal　courts　were　not　the　most　eminent　of　their　tribe。　Indeed　some　of　them　had　e　thither　because　of　difficulties　that　had　attended　their　careers　in　other　lands。　Thus　one　of　them　was　reported　to　have　mitted　a　murder　and　to　have　fled　from　the　arm　of　justice。　Another　subsequently　became　notorious　in　connection　with　the　treatment　of　the　loyal　prisoners　at　the　siege　of　Potchefstroom。　He　was　fond　of　music；　and　it　is　said　that　before　two　of　these　unfortunate　men　were　executed；　or　rather　murdered；　he　took　them　into　a　church　and　soothed　their　feelings　by　playing　the　“Dead　March　in　Saul”　over　them。　He；　by　the　way；　was　the　original　of　my　character　of　Frank　Muller　in　“Jess。”　Even　those　of　the　band　who　had　nothing　against　them　were　tainted　by　a　mon　fame：　they　all　overcharged。　It　was　frequently　their　practice　to　open　their　bill　of　costs　with　an　item　of　fifty　guineas　set　down　as　“retaining　fee；”　and　this　although　they　were　not　advocates　but　attorneys　who　were　allowed　to　plead。
In　those　days　the　Boers　were　extraordinarily　litigious；　it　　to　spend　hundreds　or　even　thousands　of　pounds　over　the　question　of　the　ownership　of　a　piece　of　land　that　was　worth　little。　So　it　came　about　that　before　the　Annexation　they　were　most　mercilessly　fleeced　by　the　lawyers　into　whose　hands　they　fell。　This　was　the　situation　which　I　was　called　upon　to　face。　Also　as　Master　I　held　another　important　office；　that　of　the　official　Guardian　of　the　estates　of　all　the　orphans　in　the　Transvaal。
I　entered　on　my　duties　with　fear　and　trembling；　but　very　soon　grasped　the　essential　facts　of　the　case。　One　of　the　first　bills　that　was　laid　before　me　was　for　600　pounds。　I　taxed　it　down　by　one…half。　Then；　either　over　this　or　some　other　bill；　the　row　began。　The　lawyers　petitioned　against　me　without　avail。　They　appealed　against　my　decision　to　the　High　Court；　again　without　avail；　for　Mr。　Justice　Kotze　supported　me。　For　a　whole　day　was　that　bill　argued　in　court；　with　the　result　that　I　was　ultimately　ordered　to　restore　an　amount　of；　I　think；　six　and　eightpence！
Considerable　percentage　fees　were　payable　to　Government　on　these　taxed　bills；　and　for　a　while　I　trusted　to　those　who　presented　the　bills　to　hand　over　these　sums　to　the　Treasury。　By　an　accident　I　discovered　that　this　was　not　always　done。　So　I　invented　a　system　of　stamps　which　had　to　be　affixed　to　the　bill　before　I　signed　it。　In　short　the　struggle　was　long　and　arduous；　but　in　the　end　I　won　the　day；　with　the　result　that　I　and　my　flock　became　the　best　of　friends。　I　think　that　when　I　left　them　they　were　sincerely　sorry。　I　remember　that　in　one　case；　a　very　important　divorce　action　which　occupied　the　court　for　more　than　a　week；　the　petition　was　dismissed　not　because　the　adultery　was　not　proved　but　on　the　ground　of　collusion。　Of　this　collusion　the　parties　were　innocent；　but　the　evidence　showed　that　the　petitioner’s　solicitor　had　actually　drafted　some　of　the　pleas　for　the　defendant’s　solicitor　and　in　other　ways　had　been　the　source　of　the　said　collusion；　thus　causing　his　client　to　lose　the　case。　On　this　ground　I　disallowed　all　his　bill　of　costs；　except　the　out…of…pocket　expenses。　No　appeal　was　entered　against　this　decision。
Of　the　surviving　letters　which　I　sent　home　at　this　period　of　my　life　several　deal　with　my　appointment　to　the　office　of　Master　and　Registrar　of　the　Transvaal　High　Court；　and　others　with　public　affairs。　From　these　I　quote　some　extracts。
Pretoria：　Dec。　18；　1877。
My　dearest　Mother；　—　。　。　。　Our　chief　excitement　just　now　is　the　Zulu　business。　It　is　to　be　hoped　that　the　Chief　will　stave　it　off　till　April；　because　the　horse…sickness　would　render　all　cavalry　useless　at　this　time　of　year。　I　do　not　suppose　that　the　Home　Government　will　help；　though　perhaps　they　may；　the　Conservatives　being　in。　If　we　have　to　fight　by　ourselves　it　will　doubtless　be　at　great　risk　and　cost　of　life。　You　see；　unless　public　opinion　presses；　the　Home　Government　is　always　glad　to　set　a　thing　of　the　sort　down　as　a　scare；　and　to　let　“those　troublesome　fellows　settle　it　somehow。”　But　I　do　not　think　that　this　is　a　matter　that　can　be　settled　without　an　appeal　to　arms　and　one　last　struggle　between　the　white　and　the　black　races。　That　it　will　be　a　terrible　fight　there　is　no　doubt；　the　Zulus　are　brave　men；　as　reckless　about　death　as　any　Turk。　They　are　panting　for　war；　for　they　have　not　“washed　their　spears”　since　the　battle　of　the　Tugela　in　1856；　when　the　two　brothers　fought　for　the　throne；　and　when　the　killed　on　one　side　alone　amounted　to　9000　men。　They　will　e　now　to　drive　the　white　men　back　into　the　“Black　Water；”　or　to　break　their　power；　and　die　in　the　attempt。
I　think　I　told　you　that　their　plan　of　battle　is　to　engage　us　in　the　open　for　three　days　and　three　nights。　They　say　they　intend　to　begin　by　firing　three　rounds　and　then　charge　in　from　every　side。　It　will　be　a　magnificent　sight　to　see　about　twenty　thousand　of　those　fellows　sweeping　d