urally have brought many other converts with him。
“But；” said he； “these women whom you wish me to put away have been the panions of my life； and I refuse to cast them on the world in their age。”
So Oham remained a pagan； at least； that was the story I heard。
Another aspect of the case is that because of its attitude towards polygamy； as to the rights and wrongs of which I express no opinion who do but set out the other side of the argument； Christianity can scarcely hope to pete with Islam where the bulk of the natives of Africa are concerned。 Islam preaches a god and says； “You may keep your wives； but you must give up spirituous liquor。” Christianity also preaches a god but says； “You must put away all wives except one； but spirituous liquor is not forbidden。”
Among primitive peoples who are asked to abandon practices which their forefathers have followed for thousands of years； one can guess which line of reasoning is likely to be accepted； especially if they have e to the conclusion that intoxicating drink proves more injurious to the individual and the race than a plurality of wives。
Once of late years I made a speech at a big African missionary congress in London； in which I ventured to put forward these aspects of the case； or something like them。 There were； I think； five bishops on the platform； and I was rather astonished to find that out of the five two seemed to think them not devoid of sense。 The other three； however； differed strongly。
Colenso； I should add； was unpopular among many colonists； not on account of religious matters； but because he was so strong and； as they considered； so intemperate an advocate of the rights of natives。 I confess that here again I find myself more or less in sympathy with him。 White settlers； especially if they be not of the highest order； are too apt to hate； despise； and revile the aboriginal inhabitants among whom they find themselves。 Often this is because they fear them； or even more frequently because the coloured people； not needing to do so； will not work for them at a low rate of wage。 For example； they cannot understand why these blacks should object to spend weeks and months hundreds of feet underground； employed in the digging of ore； and； in their hearts； often enough would like to pel them by force to do their will。 Yet surely the Kaffir whose land we have taken has a right to follow his own opinions and convenience on this subject。
Also many white men have； or used to have； a habit of personally assaulting natives； frequently upon quite insufficient grounds。 They say or said that these would do nothing unless they were beaten。 I do not believe it。 Where Zulus are concerned at least； a great deal depends upon the person in authority over them。 No race is quicker at discovering any alloy of base metal in a man’s nature。 Many who are called “gentlemen” among us on account of their wealth or station； will not pass as such with them。 By a kind of instinct they know the true article when they see it； whatever may be the position in life held by the individual in question。 True gentility； as I have seen again and again； is not the prerogative of a class but a gift innate in certain members of all classes； and by no means a mon gift。 With it rank； station； wealth have nothing to do； it either is or is not born in a man； and still more so in a woman。 To the Zulu the rest are what he calls unfagozana； that is； low fellows。 These； by misfortune； are almost always in the majority。 Like others； savages have their gentlefolk and their mon people； but with all their faults even those mon people are not vulgar in our sense of the word。 In essential matters they still preserve a certain dignity。 Of course； however； I talk of those savages whom I know。 There may be others among whom things are different。 Also； in this respect as in others； matters in Africa may have changed since my day。 I talk of a bygone generation。
One last word about Colenso。 His native name of “Usobantu” shows the estimate that the Kaffirs formed of him。 It means “Father of the People。”
Among other remarkable Natalians of that day were the old Chief Justice （was not his name O’Connor？） and Mr。 John Bird； the Treasurer of the Colony and the piler of a valuable work called “The Annals of Natal” which in after years I had the pleasure of reviewing in the Saturday Review。 The Chief Justice has always remained in my mind because of his curious power of self…control。 I remember that when the mail came in； which at that time I believe was only once a month； he used to undo the many Times newspapers that it brought to him and arrange them in a pile。 Then； beginning with the oldest in date； on each day he would read his Times； nor； however exciting might be the news； would he suffer himself to anticipate its daily development。 He never looked at the end of the story。 Thus did he delude himself into the belief that he was still in England and receiving his morning paper wet from the press。 The drawback to the system was that he was always a month behind the Natal world and two behind that of Europe。
Mr。 John Bird； a dear old gentleman； had the most marvellous memory of any man I have ever known。 He told me that if he once read anything he liked he remembered it； if he read it twice he remembered it without error； if he read it thrice he never forgot it。 In his youth he had been a surveyor； and in the course of his long waggon journeys in the Cape he taught himself Greek。 I have heard him offer to bet anyone five pounds that he would repeat any book in Homer that might be selected without making five mistakes。 Also I heard him give a lecture on “The Pleasures of Memory” which was nearly two hours long。 In the course of this lecture he made dozens of quotations from all sorts of authors and never used a single note。
The only instance that I can recollect of parallel powers was that of a gentleman who could repeat all my romance； “She；” without a mistake。 I believe he was a South African； and I imagine he must have been a relative of Mr。 Bird。
But the most interesting man of all with whom I came in contact in Natal was one who afterwards became my beloved chief and friend； for； notwithstanding the wide difference of our years； that relationship existed between us。 I refer to Sir Theophilus Shepstone； or “Sompseu” as he was called by the natives throughout South Africa。
Sir Theophilus was born in England in 1817； and emigrated to the Cape with his father； a clergyman； when he was but three years old。 In his early youth he learned many Kaffir dialects at the mission stations。 After filling various appointments he became Secretary for Native Affairs in Natal in 1856； a position which he held for twenty years。 His policy was to maintain the tribal system of the natives under the supremacy of the British Crown； and to civilise them by degrees。 Often he has told me that he believed that the Zulus should be taught to work and that their minds should be opened before attempts were made to Christianise them。 I should add that his policy； although much criticised； was singularly successful。 This is proved by the fact that； notwithstanding the enormous number of savages who poured from Zululand into Natal； with the single exception of the petty rising of the chief Langalibalele （“the Bright Shining Sun”）； which happened a year or two before I went to the Colony； there was no rebellion or native war during all the time of his management of affairs。 Personally he was known and almost worshipped by every Kaffir in the land。
“I love that boy；” I once heard him say to one of my elder colleagues as I passed by him； he thought out of earshot； and I have never forgotten the words or the tone in which they were uttered。 Well； the affection was reciprocated； and will be while I have memory。
He was a curious； silent man； any of the characteristics of the natives among whom he lived。 Often it was impossible to guess from his somewhat impassive face what was passing in his brain。 He had the power of silence； but he observed everything and forgot little。 To me； however； when the mood was on him； he would talk a great deal — the stories I have heard from him would fill half a volume — and sometimes even unfold to me the secret springs of his actions。 I only once remember his being angry with me； for he was very tender to my faults； and that was； I think； just before the issue of the Proclamation annexing the Transvaal。 I had ventured to suggest to him that it would be wiser to leave the country unannexed and retire to Natal。
“Then；” I said； “the Zulus and the Boers will destroy each other； and the Transvaal will fall like a ripe apple into the lap of Great Britain。”
He asked me angrily if I understood what I was saying； and that such a policy would mean the destruction of thousands of white men； women and children by Zulu assegais； to be followed by a great war between white and black。
I collapsed； but often and often since that day have I reflected that my advice； tainted though it may have been with the callousness of youth； was absolutely sound。 For what happened？ First we had to fight the Zulus and slaughter them by thousands； paying no small toll ourselves； and then we had to fight the Boers； not once； but twice。 If we had allowed them to exhaust themselves upon each other the total loss of life would have been no greater； if so great； and the settlement of South Africa would have been effected without the shedding of British blood； moreover； in the end the Boers would have implored our assistance and gladly have accepted our rule。 But I anticipate； of these matters I must speak later。
With the Zulus themselves； as distinguished from the Natal Kaffirs； Shepstone had much to do。 Thus in 1861； while King Panda still reigned； and after the great civil war between Cetewayo and his brother Umbelazi； in which the latter was killed or died at the battle of the Tugela； he was sent by the Government to proclaim Cetewayo heir to the throne。 For some unknown reason； Cetewayo did not wish to be thus recognised by the white men。 Indeed a preliminary difficulty arose。 The Zulu lawyers and headmen declared that it was impossible that their future king should be nominated by Sompseu。 It was overe in the following extraordina