the days of my life

第52部分 (第1/7頁)

th　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