the days of my life-第11部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


swam　its　corpse…crowded　waters。　Sir　Theophilus　visited　its　banks　a　day　or　two　afterwards；　and　told　me　that　he　never　saw　another　sight　so　fearful　as　they　presented；　because　of　the　multitude　of　dead　men；　women　and　children　with　which　they　were　strewn。
5　Published　in　1913。　—　Ed。
There　ong　us　of　Shepstone’s　staff　during　that　long　journey　or　afterwards。　Indeed　we　were　a　band　of　brothers　—　as　brothers　ought　to　be。　Personally　I　formed　friendships　then；　especially　with　Osborn　and　Clarke；　that　endured　till　their　deaths　and　I　trust　may　be　renewed　elsewhere。
When　we　crossed　into　the　Transvaal　our　expedition　assumed　a　more　business　aspect。　Greater　ceremony　was　observed　and　a　guard　was　mounted　at　night；　for　we　did　not　quite　know　how　we　should　be　received。　Now　I　made　my　first　real　acquaintance　with　the　Boers；　who　came　from　all　quarters　to　visit　or　to　spy　upon　us。　They　were　rough　folk：　big；　bearded　men　with　all　the　old　Dutch　characteristics；　who　made　a　greater　show　of　religion　than　they　practised；　especially　when　Kaffirs　were　concerned。　I　did　not　like　them　much　at　the　time　—　few　Englishmen　did　—　but　I　can　see　now　that　I　ought　to　have　made　more　allowances。　The　circumstances　of　their　history　and　up…bringing　account　for　that　which　was　repellent　both　in　their　actions　and　their　character。　Into　that　history　I　will　not　enter　further　than　to　say　that　they　had　been　bred　in　an　atmosphere　of　hereditary　hate　of　England　and　its　Governments；　which　in　some　particulars；　such　as　that　of　the　manner　of　freeing　of　the　slaves　in　the　Cape　Colony　in　1836；　was　not　altogether　unjustified。　Moreover　they　had　fought　fearful　battles　with　the　natives　in　the　territories　they　occupied；　and　learned　to　loathe　them。　The　Old　Testament　too　was　the　standard　by　which　they　ruled　their　conduct。　They　pared　themselves　to　the　Hebrews　marching　from　their　land　of　bondage　in　Egypt；　while　the　Kaffirs　in　the　parallel　filled　the　places　of　the　Canaanites　and　Jebusites　and　other　tribes　that　were　unfortunate　enough　to　stand　in　their　way。　So　they　slew　them　mercilessly；　and　under　the　name　of　apprenticeship　practically　enslaved　many　of　them。　But　in　those　days　I　saw　only　the　results；　and　judged　by　those　results。　I　did　not　see　nor　had　I　learned　the　causes　which　produced　them。　Now　I　know　that　there　is　much　to　admire　in　the　Boer　character；　also　that　among　them　were　many　men　of　real　worth。　Indeed；　as　I　shall　tell；　one　of　these　afterwards　saved　my　life　and　those　of　my　two　panions。
On　our　way　up　to　Pretoria　we　entertained　our　Dutch　visitors　on　several　occasions　as　well　as　the　circumstances　would　allow。　These　were　uncouth　dinner…parties；　but　very　amusing。　At　one　of　them　I　remember　a　jovial　old　boy　who　sat　next　to　me　invited　me　to　e　and　“opsit”　with　his　daughter；　whom　he　described　as　a　“mooi　mesje；”　that　is；　a　pretty　girl。　I　accepted　the　invitation；　packed　the　old　Boer　off　home；　and　went　to　Osborn　to　inquire　exactly　what　“opsitting”　might　be。
When　I　discovered　that　it　consisted　in　sitting　alone　with　a　young　woman　at　night　with　a　candle　burning　between　the　two；　which　somewhat　dreary　proceeding　ipso　facto　involved　a　promise　of　marriage；　I　did　not　follow　the　matter　further。　I　should　explain；　however；　that　the　engagement　depended　upon　the　length　of　the　candle。　If　the　young　lady　wished　to　encourage　the　“opsitter”　she　produced　a　long　one　that　would　last　till　dawn；　and　his　fate　was　sealed。　If　she　desired　to　be　rid　of　him　the　candle　was　of　the　shortest；　and　when　it　was　burnt　out　he　was　bound　to　go。　Conversation；　if　allowed；　was　unnecessary；　all　you　had　to　do　was　to　sit　on　either　side　of　the　candle；　which　might　not　be　passed。
I　wonder　if　they　still　“opsit”　in　South　Africa；　or　if　the　twentieth　century　has　made　an　end　of　this　quaint　and　doubtless　ancient　custom。
In　Pretoria；　where　everyone；　whatever　his　nationality；　was　utterly　sick　of　the　Boer　regime；　the　Mission　was　received　with　the　greatest　enthusiasm。　There　were　reception　mittees；　there　were　dinners；　there　were　balls；　for　although　the　munity　was　practically　bankrupt　this　did　not　detract　from　its　gaiety　or　the　lavishness　of　its　hospitality。　How　the　bills　were　paid　I　am　sure　I　do　not　know；　but　I　presume　it　must　have　been　in　kind；　for　no　one　had　any　money。　The　position　of　the　Republic　was　desperate；　and　of　it　all　despaired。　Taxes　could　no　longer　be　collected；　and　it　was　said　that　the　postmasters　were　directed　to　pay　themselves　their　own　salaries　—　in　stamps。　The　forces　of　the　country；　or　rather　the　mandoes　of　burghers；　had　been　defeated　by　the　Basuto　chief；　Secocoeni；　with　a　loss　of　seven　thousand　head　of　cattle。　As　a　result　the　war　against　this　potentate　and　his　nine　thousand　warriors　who　lived　in　the　Loolu　Berg；　a　range　of　mountains　about　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles　to　the　north…east　of　Pretoria；　was　then　being　carried　on　by　a　small　force　of　filibusters。　These　men　received　no　pay；　while　they　were　expected　to　provide　for　themselves　out　of　what　they　could　take。　The　upshot　may　be　imagined。
The　President　of　the　Republic　was　a　Cape　Colonist　minister　of　the　Dutch　Reformed　Church　who　was　educated　in　Holland；　of　the　name　of　Burgers；　a　well…meaning；　curious；　and　rather　attractive　man　of　intelligence　and　good　appearance；　but　one　utterly　lacking　in　stability　of　character。　He　had　recently　visited　Europe　in　the　interests　of　the　Republic；　and　had　even　succeeded　in　raising　90；000　pounds　in　Holland　for　the　construction　of　a　railway　to　Delagoa　Bay；　which　money；　I　believe；　was　lost。　Also　he　was　said　to　have　had　certain　nebulous　dealings　with　the　Germans　which　even　in　those　days　were　a　cause　of　some　anxiety　to　this　country。6　I　have　seen　President　Burgers　almost　in　tears　over　the　condition　of　the　Republic；　nor　did　he　veil　his　opinions　of　its　state　in　his　addresses　to　the　Volksraad；　as　anyone　who　cares　to　consult　the　history　of　the　period　can　discover　for　himself。　At　no　time　was　he　an　earnest　opponent　of　the　annexation。　Ultimately　he　accepted　a　pension　from　our　Government；　and　died　in　the　Cape　Colony　in　1881。
6　See　Sir　Bartle　Frere’s　letter　to　Mr。　J。　M。　Maclean；　“Life　of　Frere；”　vol。　ii；　p。　183。
The　great　danger　with　which　the　Transvaal　was　threatened　in　1877　was　that　of　a　Zulu　attack。　Secocoeni　had　all　along　been　acting　more　or　less　under　the　inspiration　and　orders　of　Cetewayo；　who；　when　he　saw　that　this　Basuto　chief　could　defeat　the　Dutch；　thought；　not　unnaturally；　that　the　time　was　ripe　for　him　to　strike。　The　Zulus；　who　had　never　forgotten　their　defeat　at　Blood　River　in　the　thirties；　had　many　old　scores　to　settle　with　the　Boers。　Moreover；　Cetewayo’s　great　standing　army　of　fifty　or　sixty　thousand　warriors　were　clamouring　to　be　allowed　“to　wash　their　spears；”　and　as　he　did　not　wish　to　fight　the　English　and　we　would　not　allow　him　to　fight　the　Swazis；　only　the　Boers　remained。　In　considering　the　history　of　the　annexation　of　the　Transvaal　it　should　never　be　forgotten　that　Shepstone　was　aware　of　this　fact。　Indeed　not　long　after　we　reached　Pretoria　the　news　came　to　us　that　the　Zulus　were　waiting　in　a　chain　of　“impis；”　or　armies　along　the　frontier；　prepared　when　the　signal　was　given　to　sweep　in　and　put　man；　woman　and　child　to　the　assegai。　It　was　his　fear　that　this　bloody　design　would　be　carried　out　which　pushed　on　Shepstone　to　place　the　land　under　the　protection　of　the　Queen；　knowing　as　he　did　that　in　their　penniless　and　utterly　disorganised　condition；　without　an　effective　government；　or　cannon；　or　reserves　of　ammunition；　the　Boers　had　not　the　slightest　chance　of　resisting　the　Zulu　hordes。　They　would　have　been　wiped　out　up　to　or　perhaps　beyond　Pretoria。
While　I　am　dealing　with　this　subject　I　　a　letter　which　was　written　to　me　in　November　1906　from　Ireland　by　the　late　Sir　Marshal　Clarke　a　propos　of　the　review　which　I　wrote　of　Dr。　Leyds’s　book；　“The　First　Annexation　of　the　Transvaal；”　which　appeared　in　the　issue　of　South　Africa　published　on　October　27；　1906。　It　is　an　interesting　document　and　illustrates　the　statements　that　I　have　made　above。
Sir　Marshall　says：
My　attention　was　called　some　days　ago　to　the　article　you　wrote　to　South　Africa　on　the　27th　ultimo。　I　have　not　read　Lloyd’s　book。　Brooke　＇our　colleague　on　Shepstone’s　staff。　—　H。　R。　H。＇　told　me　that　he　began　it　but　found　it　so　full　of　misstatements；　which；　considering　what　I　know　of　the　author；　was　natural；　he　did　not　care　to　go　on　with　it。　I　am　glad　that　you　did　read　it　and　were　able　to　expose　the　falsehood　of　the　charges　levelled　at　Sir　Theophilus。　There　are　few　of　our　party　left　now　and　not　one　with　the　plete　knowledge　you　have　of　what　took　place　in　Pretoria　at　the　time　of　the　Annexation。　I　can　of　course　fully　endorse　the　story　you　tell　of　what　took　place　when　the　joint　mission　went　to　Secocoeni；　but　only　on　one　occasion；　so　far　as　my　memory　serves　me；　did　I　hear　Sir　Theophilus　express　in　unguarded　language　to　a　Boer　。　。　。　＇word　illegible＇　his　views　as　to　the　imminence　of　the　danger　that　threatened　the　people　of　the　Transvaal　from　the　Zulus。　I　think　it　was　Lyle　＇Dr。　Lyle；　the　medical　officer　to　the　Mission　—　H。　R。　H。＇；　who　was　with　me；　thought　that　what　he　said　might　be　distorted　to　his　detriment；　but　on　expressing　this　opinion　to　Sir　Theophilus　he　said　he　did　not　care；　as　he　knew　the　reality　of　the　danger　he　had　indicated　and　felt　that　the　responsibility　laid　on　him　must　override　any　personal　consideration。　Looking　back　through　all　that　has　since　occurred　one　feels　all　the　more　strongly　the　courage　and　sense　of　duty　that　actuated　our　Chief。　Even　had　the　Boers　finally　beat　back　the　Zulu　onslaught　what　a　loss　of　life　and　untold　misery　must　have　at　first　resulted；　and　no　one　but　Shepstone　could　have　stopped　Cetewayo　and　that　only　by　the　act　of　Annexation　。　。　。　。
I　consider　that　this　letter；　emanating　from　so　distinguished　a　public　servant　as　Sir　Marshal　Clarke；　one　of　the　most　noble…minded　and　upright　men　that　I　ever　knew；　is　evidence　of　great　value　as　to　the　motives　which　actuated　Sir　Theophilus　at　this　period。　Moreover　it　entirely　confirms　what　I　have　written　above。
While　the　negotiations　were　going　on　between　Shepstone　and　the　Boers　it　was　suddenly　announced　in　the　Volksraad　“that　peace　had　been　provisionally　concluded　with　Secocoeni’s　envoys；　according　to　which　Secocoeni　and　his　people　became　subjects　of　the　State；　and　that　the　chief　himself　had　ratified　this　among　other　stipulations。”7
7　Sir　T。　Shepstone　to　the　Earl　of　Carnarvon；　No。　111；　C…1776。
This　news　of　course　was　very　important；　since；　if　the　Transvaal　Government　had　really　reduced　Secocoeni　to　bee　its　subject；　one　of　the　causes　of　the　proposed　British　intervention　ceased　to　exist。　Presently；　however；　there　arrived　a　letter　from　the　Rev。　A。　Merensky；　a　German　missionary　at　Botsabelo　at　whose　instance　negotiations　for　peace　had　been　begun；　which　threw　the　gravest　doubt　upon　the　genuineness　of　this　alleged　treaty。　The　result　was　that　a　mission　was　appointed　by　President　Burgers　to　investigate　the　matter；　with　which　were　sent　two　members　of　Shepstone’s　staff　to　whom　I　acted　as　secretary。　The　missioners　were　Mr。　Holtzhausen；　a　Boer；　and　Mr。　Van　Gorkom；　a　Hollander；　who　held　some　office　in　the　Transvaal　Government。　The　representatives　of　H。M。‘s　Special　missioner　were　Mr。　Osborn　and　Captain　Clarke。
The　journey　to　Secocoeni’s　country　was　long　and　rough；　dangerous　also；　as　at　this　season　of　the　year　（March）　the　fever　was　very　bad　in　that　low　veld；　so　bad　indeed　that　even　the　natives　were　dying。　At　a　place　called　Fort　Weber　was　established　a　force　of　irregular　troops　in　the　service　of　the　Transvaal　Government。　They　were　in　a　wretched　condition；　having　for　some　while　received　their　pay　in　valueless　promissory　notes　that　were　known　as　“Good…fors；”　or；　at　full　length；　as　“Good…for…nothings。”　Also　out　of　their　niy　horses　eighty…two　were　dead　of　sickness；　so　that　they　could　scarcely　be　called　an　effective　body　of　irregular　cavalry。　Still　ammunition　remained　to　them；　for　they　received　us　with　much　firing　of　guns　and　of　their　two　small　field…pieces；　also　with　an　address。
And　now　I　will　tell　you　a　story　which　shows　how　valuable　a　love　of　scenery　may　be　under　certain　circumstances。　Among　the　officers　at　Fort　Weber　was　one　whom　I　will　call　Mr。　A。；　who　was　largely　responsible　for　the　alleged　treaty　with　Secocoeni。　Also　there　was　a　Boer　called　Deventer；　an　excellent　man　who　could　sit　a　bucking　horse　better　than　anyone　I　ever　knew。　Subsequently　he　entered　the　service　of　the　British　Government　and　was　killed；　how；　I　forget。
Shortly　after　the　Annexation　Deventer　told　the　following　tale　to　Osborn；　and　at　the　time　we　satisfied　ourselves　that　this　tale　was　true。　A　night　or　two　before　our　arrival　at　Fort　Weber；　when　it　was　known　that　we　were　ing；　Makurupiji；　Secocoeni’s　“Tongue”　or　prime　minister；　visited　the　place　in　connection　with　the　peace　negotiations。　Whether　he　was　still　there　when　we　arrived　I　am　not　quite　certain。　During　his　stay　Mr。　A。　—　who；　I　should　add；　was　not　of　pure　Boer　blood　—　in　Deventer’s　hearing　assured　Makurupiji　that　if　the　Boers　had　scourged　Secocoeni　with　whips；　the　English　would　scourge　him　with　scorpions。　He　said　that　they　would　take　all　the　women　and　cattle　and　make　slaves　or　soldiers　of　the　men。　So　earnest　were　his　protestations　that　at　length　Makurupiji；　who　knew　nothing　about　the　English；　was　persuaded　to　believe　him　and　asked　what　could　be　done　to　prevent　these　calamities。
Mr。　A。　answered　that　there　was　but　one　way　out　of　the　danger；　namely　to　kill　the　British　envoys。　To　this　plan　Makurupiji　at　length　consented；　and　it　was　arranged　that　on　our　way　back　from　Secocoeni’s　town　we　three　were　to　be　ambushed　and　murdered　by　the　Basutos。　I　should　add　that　we　never　learned　whether　or　not　Secocoeni　himself　had　any　part　in　this　scheme；　or　whether　all　the　credit　of　it　must　be　given　to　Makurupiji；　a　very　cunning　and　villainous…looking　person；　who；　I　believe；　ultimately　mitted　suicide　after　the　destruction　of　the　tribe；　preferring　death　to　imprisonment。　If　Secocoeni　was　concerned　in　it　retribution　overtook　him　when；　a　year　or　two　later；　Sir　Gar　Wolseley　stormed　his　town　with　the　help　of　the　Swazis　and　wiped　out　his　people。　I　think　that　he　himself　died　in　jail　in　Pretoria。
After　the　plot　had　been　settled　in　all　its　details　Mr。　A。　and　Makurupiji　separated。　During　the　night；　however；　Deventer；　who　was　horrified　at　the　whole　business；　crept　to　where　Makurupiji　was　sleeping；　woke　him　up　and　implored　him　to　have　nothing　to　do　with　so　foul　a　crime。　Makurupiji　listened　to　his　arguments　and　in　the　end　answered；　“My　words　are　my　words。　What　I　have　said　I　have　said。”
We　arrived　and；　according　to　my　original　pencilled　notes　which　I　have　before　me；　started　for　Secocoeni’s　on　March　27th。　All　that　day　we　rode　through　wild　and　most　beautiful　country；　now　across　valleys　and　now　over　mountains。　Indeed　I　never　saw　any　more　lovely　in　its　own　savage　way；　backed　as　it　was　by　the　splendid　Blueberg　range　rising　like　a　titanic　wall；　its　jagged　pinnacles　aglow　with　the　fires　of　the　setting　sun。　At　length；　scrambling　down　the　path；　in　which　one　of　our　horses　was　seized　with　the　dreaded　sickness　and　left　to　die；　we　entered　the　fever…trap　known　as　Secocoeni’s　Town　and　rode　on　past　the　celebrated　fortified　kopje　to　the　beautiful　hut　that　had　been　prepared　for　us。
Here　we　were　received　by　Swasi；　Secocoeni’s　uncle　and　guest…master。　All　the　population　flocked　out　to　look　at　us；　clad　in　the　sweet　simplicity　of　a　little　strip　of　skin　tied　round　the　middle。　Even　here；　however；