RIDER HAGGARD’S MOUNTAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 256, 26 September 1933, Page 8

RIDER HAGGARD’S MOUNTAIN

Those who have read Rider Haggard may be interested to know that the “mountain” mentioned in his books is actually in existence. It is part of the Umbombo Mountain Range near M’Kuzi on the borders of Zululand, Swaziland and Pondoland, and it is often called “Rider Haggard’s Mountain" by local residents. In his book “Alan Quartermain” there is mentioned a character well known to everyone, the Zulu, “Umslapoggaas.” He had a famous battle-axe called the “Slaughterer” which had a handle 3ft. 3ins. long and l&ins. thick made from a rhinoceros horn. As youngsters we did not believe there ever con’d have been a rhinoceros horn which is large enough to supply such a handle. Zitzuland is full of interesting spots and such a one is the battlefield of Isandhlwana with the peculiar shaped bill from which the battlefield takes its name. Cairns of stone are built over the hones of the massacred British troops. All remember the terrible toll of life that occurred in the massacre and the serious reverse the Zulu impi got at Rorke’s Drift the next day. The last battle of the Zulu war took place on the plain at Ulundi when the Zulu nation was conquered and their king fled. It is interesting to note that there were only eleven British killed and these were buried together on the battlefield.