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there； O dreams； it is not your hour'if I do this； and stand before
you just a woman who loves and who swears by the spirits of her fathers
never to think or do that which has not your blessingwill you love me
a little； Macumazahn？〃
Now I was silent； for she had driven me to the last ditch； and I knew
not what to say。 Moreover； I will confess my weaknessI was strangely
moved。 This beautiful girl with the 〃fire in her heart；〃 this woman who
was different from all other women that I had ever known； seemed to have
twisted her slender fingers into my heart…strings and to be drawing me
towards her。 It was a great temptation； and I bethought me of old
Zikali's saying in the Black Kloof； and seemed to hear his giant laugh。
She glided up to me； she threw her arms about me and kissed me on the
lips； and I think I kissed her back； but really I am not sure what I did
or said； for my head swam。 When it cleared again she was standing in
front of me； looking at me reflectively。
〃Now； Macumazahn；〃 she said； with a little smile that both mocked and
dazzled； 〃the poor black girl has you； the wise； experienced white man；
in her net； and I will show you that she can be generous。 Do you think
that I do not read your heart； that I do not know that you believe I am
dragging you down to shame and ruin？ Well； I spare you； Macumazahn；
since you have kissed me and spoken words which already you may have
forgotten； but which I do not forget。 Go your road； Macumazahn； and I
go mine； since the proud white man shall not be stained with my black
touch。 Go your road； but one thing I forbid youto believe that you
have been listening to lies； and that I have merely played off a woman's
arts upon you for my own ends。 I love you； Macumazahn； as you will
never be loved till you die； and I shall never love any other man；
however many I may marry。 Moreover； you shall promise me one
thingthat once in my life； and once only； if I wish it； you shall kiss
me again before all men。 And now； lest you should be moved to folly and
forget your white man's pride； I bid you farewell； O Macumazana。 When
we meet again it will be as friends only。〃
Then she went； leaving me feeling smaller than ever I felt in my life；
before or sinceeven smaller than when I walked into the presence of
old Zikali the Wise。 Why； I wondered； had she first made a fool of me；
and then thrown away the fruits of my folly？ To this hour I cannot
quite answer the question； though I believe the explanation to be that
she did really care for me； and was anxious not to involve me in trouble
and her plottings； also she may have been wise enough to see that our
natures were as oil and water and would never blend。
CHAPTER V
TWO BUCKS AND THE DOE
It may be thought that； as a sequel to this somewhat remarkable scene in
which I was absolutely bowled overperhaps bowled out would be a better
termby a Kafir girl who； after bending me to her will； had the genius
to drop me before I repented； as she knew I would do so soon as her back
was turned； thereby making me look the worst of fools； that my relations
with that young lady would have been strained。 But not a bit of it。
When next we met； which was on the following morning； she was just her
easy； natural self； attending to my hurts； which by now were almost
well； joking about this and that； inquiring as to the contents of
certain letters which I had received from Natal； and of some newspapers
that came with themfor on all such matters she was very curiousand
so forth。
Impossible； the clever critic will sayimpossible that a savage could
act with such finish。 Well； friend critic； that is just where you are
wrong。 When you come to add it up there's very little difference in all
main and essential matters between the savage and yourself。
To begin with； by what exact right do we call people like the Zulus
savages？ Setting aside the habit of polygamy； which； after all； is
common among very highly civilised peoples in the East； they have a
social system not unlike our own。 They have； or had； their king； their
nobles； and their commons。 They have an ancient and elaborate law； and
a system of morality in some ways as high as our own； and certainly more
generally obeyed。 They have their priests and their doctors； they are
strictly upright； and observe the rites of hospitality。
Where they differ from us mainly is that they do not get drunk until the
white man teaches them so to do； they wear less clothing； the climate
being more genial； their towns at night are not disgraced by the sights
that distinguish ours； they cherish and are never cruel to their
children； although they may occasionally put a deformed infant or a twin
out of the way； and when they go to war； which is often； they carry out
the business with a terrible thoroughness； almost as terrible as that
which prevailed in every nation in Europe a few generations ago。
Of course； there remain their witchcraft and the cruelties which result
from their almost universal belief in the power and efficiency of magic。
Well； since I lived in England I have been reading up this subject； and
I find that quite recently similar cruelties were practised throughout
Europethat is in a part of the world which for over a thousand years
has enjoyed the advantages of the knowledge and profession of the
Christian faith。
Now； let him who is highly cultured take up a stone to throw at the
poor； untaught Zulu； which I notice the most dissolute and drunken
wretch of a white man is often ready to do； generally because he covets
his land； his labour； or whatever else may be his。
But I wander from my point； which is that a clever man or woman among
the people whom we call savages is in all essentials very much the same
as a clever man or woman anywhere else。
Here in England every child is educated at the expense of the Country；
but I have not observed that the system results in the production of
more really able individuals。 Ability is the gift of Nature； and that
universal mother sheds her favours impartially over all who breathe。
No； not quite impartially； perhaps； for the old Greeks and others were
examples to the contrary。 Still； the general rule obtains。
To return。 Mameena was a very able person； as she chanced to be a very
lovely one； a person who； had she been favoured by opportunity； would
doubtless have played the part of a Cleopatra with equal or greater
success； since she shared the beauty and the unscrupulousness of that
famous lady and was； I believe； capable of her passion。
I scarcely like to mention the matter since it affects myself； and the
natural vanity of man makes him prone to conclude that he is the
particular object of sole and undying devotion。 Could he know all the
facts of the case； or cases； probably he would be much undeceived； and
feel about as small as I did when Mameena walked； or rather crawled； out
of the hut （she could even crawl gracefully）。 Still； to be honestand
why should I not； since all this business 〃went beyond〃 so long ago？I
do believe that there was a certain amount of truth in what she
saidthat； for Heaven knows what reason； she did take a fancy to me；
which fancy continued during her short and stormy life。 But the reader
of her story may judge for himself。
Within a fortnight of the day of my discomfiture in the hut I was quite
well and strong again； my ribs； or whatever part of me it was that the
buffalo had injured with his iron knees； having mended up。 Also； I was
anxious to be going； having business to attend to in Natal； and； as no
more had been seen or heard of Saduko； I determined to trek homewards；
leaving a message that he knew where to find me if he wanted me。 The
truth is that I was by no means keen on being involved in his private
war with Bangu。 Indeed； I wished to wash my hands of the whole matter；
including the fair Mameena and her mocking eyes。
So one morning； having already got up my oxen； I told Scowl to inspan
theman order which he received with joy； for he and the other boys
wished to be off to civilisation and its delights。 Just as the
operation was beginning； however； a message came to me from old Umbezi；
who begged me to delay my departure till after noon； as a friend of his；
a big chief； had come to visit him who wished much to have the honour of
making my acquaintance。 Now； I wished the big chief farther off； but；
as it seemed rude to refuse the request of one who had been so kind to
me； I ordered the oxen to be unyoked but kept at hand； and in an
irritable frame of mind walked up to the kraal。 This was about half a
mile from my place of outspan； for as soon as I was sufficiently
recovered I had begun to sleep in my wagon； leaving the big hut to the
〃Worn…out…Old…Cow。〃
There was no particular reason why I should be irritated； since time in
those days was of no great account in Zululand； and it did not much
matter to me whether I trekked in the morning or the afternoon。 But the
fact was that I could not get over the prophecy of Zikali； 〃the Little
and Wise；〃 that I was destined to share Saduko's expedition against
Bangu； and； although he had been right about the buff