that avail？ When you have “gone beyond” it will be forgotten； since the sting of ingratitude passes and lies must wither like the winter veldt。 Only your name will not be forgotten； as it was heard in life so it shall be heard in story； and I pray that； however humbly； mine may pass down with it。 Chance has taken me by another path； and I must leave the ways of action that I love and bury myself in books； but the old days and friends are in my mind； nor while I have memory shall I forget them and you。
Therefore； though it be for the last time； from far across the seas I speak to you； and lifting my hand I give you your “Sibonga”18 and that royal salute； to which； now that its kings are gone and the “People of Heaven” are no more a nation； with Her Majesty you are alone entitled：
Bayete！ Baba； Nkosi ya makosi！
Ngonyama！ Indhlovu ai pendulwa！
Wen’ o wa vela wasi pata！
Wen’ o was hlul’ izizwe zonke za patwa nguive！
Wa geina nge la Mabun’ o wa ba hlul’ u yedwa！
Umsizi we zintandane e zihlupekayo！
Si ya kuleka Baba！
Bayete； T’Sompseu！19
and farewell！
H。 Rider Haggard。
To Sir Theophilus Shepstone； K。C。M。G。； Natal。
13th September 1891。
18 Titles of praise。
19 Bayete； Father； Chief of Chiefs！
Lion！ Elephant that is not turned！
You who nursed us from of old！
You who overshadowed all peoples and took charge of them；
And ended by mastering the Boers with your single strength！
Help of the fatherless when in trouble！
Salutation to you； Father！
Bayete； O Sompseu！
Here is the touching letter in which Sir Theophilus acknowledges it。 It is bound up with the manuscript of “Nada；” and is the last that I ever received from him； for