Копи царя Соломона
Umbopa Enters Our Service
Atlast,onebeautifuleveninginJanuary,whichisourhottestmonth,westeamedpastthecoastofNatal,expectingtomakeDurbanPointbysunset. ItisalovelycoastallalongfromEastLondon,withitsredsandhillsandwidesweepsofvividgreen,dottedhereandtherewithKafirkraals,andborderedbyaribbonofwhitesurf,whichspoutsupinpillarsoffoamwhereithitstherocks. ButjustbeforeyoucometoDurbanthereisapeculiarrichnessaboutthelandscape. Therearethesheerkloofscutinthehillsbytherushingrainsofcenturies,downwhichtheriverssparkle; thereisthedeepestgreenofthebush,growingasGodplantedit,andtheothergreensofthemealiegardensandthesugarpatches,whilenowandagainawhitehouse,smilingoutattheplacidsea,putsafinishandgivesanairofhomelinesstothescene. Fortomymind,howeverbeautifulaviewmaybe,itrequiresthepresenceofmantomakeitcomplete,butperhapsthatisbecauseIhavelivedsomuchinthewilderness,andthereforeknowthevalueofcivilisation,thoughtobesureitdrivesawaythegame. TheGardenofEden,nodoubt,lookedfairbeforemanwas,butIalwaysthinkthatitmusthavebeenfairerwhenEveadornedit.
Toreturn,wehadmiscalculatedalittle,andthesunwaswelldownbeforewedroppedanchoroffthePoint,andheardthegunwhichtoldthegoodfolksofDurbanthattheEnglishMailwasin. ItwastoolatetothinkofgettingovertheBarthatnight,sowewentcomfortablytodinner,afterseeingtheMailscarriedoffinthelife-boat.
Whenwecameupagainthemoonwasout,andshiningsobrightlyoverseaandshorethatshealmostpaledthequick,largeflashesfromthelighthouse. Fromtheshorefloatedsweetspicyodoursthatalwaysremindmeofhymnsandmissionaries,andinthewindowsofthehousesontheBereasparkledahundredlights.
