harmless amongst their own people, and how witchcraft was abolished, they will have to record that all this was brought about by the wise and far-sighted policy of Sir George Grey, and his name will be handed down to posterity as the best Governor the Colony and country has ever had. Dr. Fitzgerald having received many flattering notices of a pamphlet he published on hospital management, and being much complimented on his management of the institution, wrote to Sir George Grey that he felt all the praise was really given to him (Sir George Grey), the originator of the work. "We together have witnessed wonderful times during the cattle killing. How wonder fully our good God humbled this proud nation at your feet. To Him be the first honour, and glory to you, dear Sir George, next. I am your child and faithful servant, nothing more." General Gordon used often to go and chat with him, and thought very highly of the hospital. Dr. Fitzgerald continues: You know it was my strong affection for you which made me throw up my position in Wellington to follow you here, and when you left I would have gone back to New Zealand if I could. The Irish heart does not forget kindness, and such kindness and honour as you showed me." In 1886 he writes that by the end of the year, "about one hundred and eleven thousand patients will have passed through this institution since it was established, and about two hundred blind people have been sent back to their friends with restored sight." He goes on to explain that this does not show the amount of work that had been done every day, as of course patients would only have their names entered once, though they might continue coming for weeks. "This year (1886), besides the indoor cases, over 5,000 fresh dispensing cases from all parts of the colony and the frontiers have received medical aid here. It is surprising what long distances they travel by waggon and on foot to seek medical aid here. This is very gratifying." He says, "Why don't you write My Government of South Africa? What an interesting and useful book it would be with the Wonderful Prophecy. All the institutions you established here are working so well. The magistrates amongst the tribes, and in Basutoland Colonel Clerk appears by his wonderful tact and patience to be bringing back the chiefs to a state of tranquillity. You would do good amongst both Dutch and English, and allay a feeling of want of confidence between both races, your name is so revered. I pray God to inspire you to do what is His holy will. He gave me a friend and kind patron in you. We have worked together in wonderful times here, and if we have passed through severe trials we have had our consolations.--Ever, my dear Sir George, your grateful and affectionate servant, "J. P. FITZGERALD." By the end of 1890 over 130,000 cases had been treated in the Grey Hospital. CHAPTER XXVI. THE KAFIR PROPHETESS AND THE "WONDERFUL PROPHECY." "All these woes shall serve For sweet discourses in the time to come." --Romeo and Juliet. TH "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, -Hamlet. HE Kafir chiefs became now convinced that they must act decisively, or this new Governor with his strange institutions would certainly destroy their power. The Governor heard that all the Kafir chiefs were leaguing together to invade the colony at various points at the same time. He heard, also, a report so astounding and unprecedented, that he could scarcely give it credence. It was said that in order to ensure a desperate attack upon the European settlements, the chiefs had promised themselves and induced their people to promise to destroy their crops, cattle, pigs, sheep, fowls, and all other food. The barbarians were thus to be driven by famine to invade our territories. Behind them would be a barren desert, in front the land of promise. The fields, the crops, the bread of the English, they must have, or starve. As they numbered 200,000 souls, of whom about 60,000 were men, it was evident if these reports were true, that a colossal and appalling tragedy was imminent. Sir George Grey at once proceeded to the Kafir country and saw the Kafir leaders. The tidings were true. He pointed out the fact that they were only injuring themselves, and indeed committing suicide; but argument was useless. They said that a prophetess, a girl reputed among the tribes as knowing the mind of the fates, had prophesied that it was the will of their deities that this sacrifice should be made, and that they should obtain tenfold from the English in the day of victory. The proofs of her claim to supernatural knowledge were to the Kafir mind beyond dispute. To her eyes were revealed secrets hidden from the gaze of ordinary mortals. To her ears were spoken words which none else could hear, or hearing, understand. In the silent watches of the night, when others slept, shadowy guides conducted her to strange and wonderful scenes. For her the secret passage which led beneath the waters of the great lake was opened by the lifting up of a hidden door. To that subterranean world she was welcomed by the mighty dead. Chiefs long since mouldered into dust, whose names alone remained as the heritage of their descendants, there appeared and spoke to her of the coming strife, and of its glorious ending-if the people were but faithful. Beneath the placid waters she beheld, far as the eye could reach, wide and fruitful fields. Upon these green pastures fed countless herds of cattle, larger and more beautiful than any she had ever seen upon earth's surface. She was told that she must listen to the counsels of the departed, so that she might speak to the people now alive the wisdom of the unseen world. Chief after chief had spoken; wielding the arms once borne in the van of battle, each ancestor of the tribes gave his voice for the instruction and warning of his people. The warriors were to arm; the cattle and crops of food of the people were to be destroyed by a fixed day. The whole nation, thus deprived of all means of support and sustenance, was to move upon the invading strangers without hesitation and without fear, and all would be well. Not only should victory crown their arms, and the rich farms, flocks, and herds of the white man be theirs by conquest, but the cattle now seen by the inspired girl-prophet, and all the splendour which the living dead revealed to her, should be theirs also. On Wednesday, the 18th of February, 1857-“When the sun rose in the morning, after wandering for a time in the heavens, it was to set again in the east. A hurricane was to sweep from the earth all who would not believe in the revelation, European or Kafir. Then the ancestors of the Kafirs were to rise from the dead, with countless herds of cattle of a noble breed, and with quantities of plunder of every description, all of which were to be shared out among the followers of the prophetess, who were at the same time to be restored to youth and endowed with beauty."* As with kindling eyes and inspired bearing the girl told to the astonished crowd the wonderful stories of her interviews with the dead, a frenzy seized upon her hearers, and impelled them onward in the course she pointed out. Old chiefs, whose prudence suggested caution, questioned her closely as to the appearance and words of the departed heroes who had met her in the shadowy land beneath the lake. To their astonishment, every question was correctly answered. The arms borne by each respectively, the peculiar expressions known, or believed, to have been used by each, the personal appearance, the very scars and wounds received in battle, were described minutely, but with unerring accuracy, by this female seer. To such evidence it was impossible to refuse belief. Some of the heads of tribes and families knew the power of the English, and dreaded the result. But the spell of the mysterious influence was too strong even for the timid or the wise. When the prophetess, from her trance-like calmness, leaped up to speak, the wild grandeur of her appearance and the glowing passion of her words carried away the people like a torrent, and with one consent the Kafir tribes obeyed. Perhaps there never was a more remarkable illustration of the overwhelming power of popular belief, however erroneous, than this episode in the history of South Africa. Were it not that the records are beyond doubt or suspicion, and vouched by the bodies of thousands who perished by famine, it would be difficult to believe that solely in reliance on the ravings of a demented girl a whole nation should destroy its means of subsistence, and enter upon a desperate war. Compared with this, the burning of their ships by the Greeks before Troy is but feeble and trifling. Sir George Grey received from time to time news of these strange History of South Africa."-J. Noble. * 66 |