12 One of these plants was still blooming in Sir Rider’s bedroom in 1925。 — Ed。
Zulu Reserve； via Stanger； Natal：
August 2； 1883。
。 。 。 The place I am living at now is about a hundred miles south of Inhlazaty and is one of the loveliest spots in South Africa。 I have a very fine forest within half a mile of my house； and a sea view a good sixty miles along the coast。 My position here as supreme chief representing the paramount Power is certainly an improvement on the last。
You will have learnt ere this of Cetewayo’s fate。 It could not have been otherwise： he was bound to e to grief； as from the day he set foot in Zululand — since his restoration he has never ceased in doing that which he ought not to have done。 He proved himself to be as bad a character as ever wore a head…ring。 It is to be hoped that he will do better in the happy hunting…grounds whither he betook himself on Saturday； 21 July； through the persuasive influence of several gleaming blades and sundry rifle bullets。 As to myself I am getting thoroughly sick and tired of this dark country full of dark deeds of evil and violence。 。 。 。 I suppose that by this time you will have developed into a full blown barrister； and I need not tell you that from my heart I wish you every success。 You ought to try for an appointment as Attorney…General in a colony （Crown）； as you have the pull of private practice in addition to your official employment in such an office。
It is evident that when Sir Melmoth Osborn wrote thus of the death of Cetewayo as having taken place on July 21； 1883； he was deceived by some false rumour which had reached the Reserve from Zululand proper。 Cetewayo did not really die until February 8； 1884； and Osborn saw his corpse before it was quite cold。 An account of the circumstances of his death； which Sir Melmoth told me afterwards he believed to have been caused by poison； will be found on pp。 28 and 29 of the Introduction to the 1888 and subsequent editions of my book “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours。”
I think that we left Ditchingham； which at the time I thought I had let for some years to a gentleman who unhappily died before he took possession； at the beginning of 1885； about ten years after I began life in South Africa。 Now with a wife and three children I was practically beginning life again in a small furnished house in West Kensington at the age of twenty…eight or thereabouts。
I remember； as one does remember trifles； that we drove in a railway bus from Liverpool Street to the West Kensington house； which personally I had not seen。 We passed down the Embankment； and my little son； whom I was destined to lose； kneeled upon the seat of the bus and stared at the Thames； asking many questions。
After my arrival in London I began to attend the Probate and Divorce Court。 Soon I found； however； that if I was to obtain a footing in that rather close borough； I must do so through a regular gate； and I entered into an arrangement with Bargrave （now Sir Henry Bargrave） Deane to work in his chambers。 He was a connection of mine； my cousin Major George Haggard having married his sister。 She died young。 At that time her father； the well…known lawyer old Sir James Deane； was still alive； and I remember acting as his junior in some Divorce Court case。 Bargrave Deane is now one of the judges of the Probate and Divorce Division。
Chapter 10 “KING SOLOMON’S MINES” AND “SHE”
“King Solomon’s Mines” — Andrew Lang — Estimate of Lang’s character — Anecdotes of Lang — Cassells and “King Solomon’s Mines” — Instant success — Letters from R。 L。 S。 — Bazett Haggard and R。 L。 S。 in Samoa。 — The writing of “Jess” and “She” — What I shall be remembered by — Fifteen months’ work — “She” dedicated to Lang — Published by Longmans — Letters about it — The Sherd of Amenartas。
Whether I wrote “King Solomon’s Mines” before or after I entered Bargrave Deane’s chambers I cannot now remember； but I think it must have been before。 At any rate I recollect that we brought up from Ditchingham a certain pedestal writing…desk； which had always been in the house and has returned thither； for it now stands in my wife’s bedroom； and added it to the somewhat exiguous furniture of our hired abode。 It stood in the dining…room； and on it in the evenings — for my days were spent in the Temple — I wrote “King Solomon’s Mines。” I think the task occupied me about six weeks。 When the tale was finished I hawked it round to sundry publishers； Hurst and Blackett among them； none of whom if I remember rightly； thought it worth bringing out。
At length； I know not how； the manuscript； which today presents a somewhat battered appearance； reached the late W。 E。 Henley； who appears to have brought it to the notice of Mr。 Andrew Lang。 How I first came into contact with my friend Andrew Lang — that is； where and when I met him — I cannot recall。 This； however； must have been subsequent to the following note：
1 Marloes Road： March 28 ＇1883＇。
My dear Sir； — Your paper “Bottles” has reached me as London editor of Harper’s。 I am much pleased by it； but I am unable to accept anything except by permission of the American editor。 。 。 。 I am glad to take this opportunity of thanking you for the great pleasure “The Witch’s Head” has given me。 I have not read anything so good for a long while。
Faithfully yours；
A。 Lang。
What the paper “Bottles” may have been I am not now quite sure。 I think； however； that I can identify it with a short tale which subsequently appeared in a magazine； perhaps the Cornhill； under the title of “The Blue Curtains。” At any rate I have forgotten the circumstances of the story； and do not know whether a copy of it remains in my possession。
When Lang’s next letter was written — it is only dated “Sunday” — I gather from its tone that I had made his personal acquaintance。 Its subject is “King Solomon’s Mines；” and it runs：
Dear Mr。 Rider Haggard； — I have got so far as Sir Henry’s duel with the king。 Seldom have I read a book with so much pleasure： I think it perfectly delightful。 The question is； what is the best； whereby I mean the coiniest； way to publish it？ As soon as possible I will find out what Harper’s Boy’s Magazine is able to do。 I believe that all boys’ magazines pay hopelessly badly。 There is so much invention and imaginative power and knowledge of African character in your book that I almost prefer it to “Treasure Island。”
The rest of the letter deals with possible methods of bringing out the work。
Lang’s next letter on the subject is dated October 3rd； and shows that by now we were on more or less intimate terms。
Dear Rider Haggard； — Many thanks for “K。S。M。” How grand the map is。 。 。 。 Abstain from politics； let civilisation die decently as die it must； and as we have no fight in us。 I don’t belong to the Voting classes。 Ni Elettori ni Eletti。
Yours very truly；
A。 Lang。
P。S。 — My people； with whom I have been in Galloway； prefer “Dawn” to “The Witch’s Head。” I don’t。 “Dawn” is too steep； especially Lady Bellamy； and George； and Philip； and the heroine。 The writing and the sentiment pleased me very much； but I barred the Astral Body。
Perhaps before I go any further I should try