Генри Хаггард - Allan Quatermain

By a sad coincidence, since the above was written by Mr Quatermain, the Masai have, in April 1886, massacred a missionary and his wife—Mr and Mrs Houghton—on this very Tana River, and at the spot described. These are, I believe, the first white people who are known to have fallen victims to this cruel tribe.—Editor.

Mr Allan Quatermain misquotes—Pleasure sat at the helm.—Editor.

Mr Quatermain does not seem to have been aware that it is common for animal–worshipping people to annually sacrifice the beasts they adore. See Herodotus, ii. 45.—Editor.

There is another theory which might account for the origin of the Zu–Vendi which does not seem to have struck my friend Mr Quatermain and his companions, and that is, that they are descendants of the Phoenicians. The cradle of the Phoenician race is supposed to have been on the western shore of the Persian Gulf. Thence, as there is good evidence to show, they emigrated in two streams, one of which took possession of the shores of Palestine, while the other is supposed by savants to have immigrated down the coast of Eastern Africa where, near Mozambique, signs and remains of their occupation are not wanting. Indeed, it would have been very extraordinary if they did not, when leaving the Persian Gulf, make straight for the East Coast, seeing that the north–east monsoon blows for six months in the year dead in that direction, while for the other six months it blows back again. And, by the way of illustrating the probability, I may add that to this day a very extensive trade is carried on between the Persian Gulf and Lamu and other East African ports as far south as Madagascar, which is of course the ancient Ebony Isle of the 'Arabian Nights'.—Editor.

There are twenty–two letters in the Phoenician alphabet (see Appendix, Maspero's Histoire ancienne des peuples de l'Orient, p. 746, etc.) Unfortunately Mr Quatermain gives us no specimen of the Zu–Vendi writing, but what he here states seems to go a long way towards substantiating the theory advanced in the note on p. 149.—Editor.

These are internal measurements.—A. Q.

Light was also admitted by sliding shutters under the eaves of the dome and in the roof.—A. Q.

This line is interesting as being one of the few allusions to be found in the Zu–Vendi ritual to a vague divine essence independent of the material splendour of the orb they worship. 'Taia', the word used here, has a very indeterminate meaning, and signifies essence, vital principle, spirit, or even God.

Alluding to the Zulu custom.—A. Q.

In Zu–Vendis members of the Royal House can only be married by the High Priest or a formally appointed deputy.—A. Q.

Alluding to the Zu–Vendi custom of carrying dead officers on a framework of spears.

The Zu–Vendi people do not use bows.—A. Q.

Of course, the roof of the Temple, being so high, caught the light some time before the breaking of the dawn.—A. Q.

Of course the Court of Probate would allow nothing of the sort.—Editor

It is suggested to me that this book is The Cruise of the "Falcon", with which work I am personally unacquainted.