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Elissa

or

The　Doom　of　Zimbabwe



by　H。　Rider　Haggard









DEDICATION



To　the　Memory　of　the　Child



Nada　Burnham；



　　who　〃bound　all　to　her〃　and；　while　her　father　cut　his　way　through

　　the　hordes　of　the　Ingobo　Regiment；　perished　of　the　hardships　of

　　war　at　Buluwayo　on　19th　May；　1896；　I　dedicate　these　talesand

　　more　particularly　the　last；　that　of　a　Faith　which　triumphed　over

　　savagery　and　death。



H。　Rider　Haggard。



　　Ditchingham。







AUTHOR'S　NOTE



　　Of　the　three　stories　that　comprise　this　volume；　one；　〃The

　　Wizard；〃　a　tale　of　victorious　faith；　first　appeared　some　years　ago

　　as　a　Christmas　Annual。　Another；　〃Elissa；〃　is　an　attempt；　difficult

　　enough　owing　to　the　scantiness　of　the　material　left　to　us　by　time；

　　to　recreate　the　life　of　the　ancient　Ph？nician　Zimbabwe；　whose

　　ruins　still　stand　in　Rhodesia；　and；　with　the　addition　of　the

　　necessary　love　story；　to　suggest　circumstances　such　as　might　have

　　brought　about　or　accompanied　its　fall　at　the　hands　of　the

　　surrounding　savage　tribes。　The　third；　〃Black　Heart　and　White

　　Heart；〃　is　a　story　of　the　courtship；　trials　and　final　union　of　a

　　pair　of　Zulu　lovers　in　the　time　of　King　Cetywayo。









NOTE



The　world　is　full　of　ruins；　but　few　of　them　have　an　origin　so　utterly

lost　in　mystery　as　those　of　Zimbabwe　in　South　Central　Africa。　Who

built　them？　What　purpose　did　they　serve？　These　are　questions　that　must

have　perplexed　many　generations；　and　many　different　races　of　men。



The　researches　of　Mr。　Wilmot　prove　to　us　indeed　that　in　the　Middle

Ages　Zimbabwe　or　Zimboe　was　the　seat　of　a　barbarous　empire；　whose

ruler　was　named　the　Emperor　of　Monomotapa；　also　that　for　some　years

the　Jesuits　ministered　in　a　Christian　church　built　beneath　the　shadow

of　its　ancient　towers。　But　of　the　original　purpose　of　those　towers；

and　of　the　race　that　reared　them；　the　inhabitants　of　medi？val

Monomotapa；　it　is　probable；　knew　less　even　than　we　know　to…day。　The

labours　and　skilled　observation　of　the　late　Mr。　Theodore　Bent；　whose

death　is　so　great　a　loss　to　all　interested　in　such　matters；　have　shown

almost　beyond　question　that　Zimbabwe　was　once　an　inland　Ph？nician

city；　or　at　the　least　a　city　whose　inhabitants　were　of　a　race　which

practised　Ph？nician　customs　and　worshipped　the　Ph？nician　deities。

Beyond　this　all　is　conjecture。　How　it　happened　that　a　trading　town；

protected　by　vast　fortifications　and　adorned　with　temples　dedicated　to

the　worship　of　the　gods　of　the　Sidoniansor　rather　trading　towns；　for

Zimbabwe　is　only　one　of　a　group　of　ruinswere　built　by　civilised　men

in　the　heart　of　Africa　perhaps　we　shall　never　learn　with　certainty；

though　the　discovery　of　the　burying…places　of　their　inhabitants　might

throw　some　light　upon　the　problem。



But　if　actual　proof　is　lacking；　it　is　scarcely　to　be　doubtedfor　the

numerous　old　workings　in　Rhodesia　tell　their　own　talethat　it　was　the

presence　of　payable　gold　reefs　worked　by　slave　labour　which　tempted

the　Ph？nician　merchants　and　chapmen；　contrary　to　their　custom；　to

travel　so　far　from　the　sea　and　establish　themselves　inland。　Perhaps

the　city　Zimboe　was　the　Ophir　spoken　of　in　the　first　Book　of　Kings。　At

least；　it　is　almost　certain　that　its　principal　industries　were　the

smelting　and　the　sale　of　gold；　also　it　seems　probable　that　expeditions

travelling　by　sea　and　land　would　have　occupied　quite　three　years　of

time　in　reaching　it　from　Jerusalem　and　returning　thither　laden　with

the　gold　and　precious　stones；　the　ivory　and　the　almug　trees　（1　Kings

x。）。　Journeying　in　Africa　must　have　been　slow　in　those　days；　that　it

was　also　dangerous　is　testified　by　the　ruins　of　the　ancient　forts

built　to　protect　the　route　between　the　gold　towns　and　the　sea。



However　these　things　may　be；　there　remains　ample　room　for　speculation

both　as　to　the　dim　beginnings　of　the　ancient　city　and　its　still　dimmer

end；　whereof　we　can　guess　only；　when　it　became　weakened　by　luxury　and

the　mixture　of　races；　that　hordes　of　invading　savages　stamped　it　out

of　existence　beneath　their　blood…stained　feet；　as；　in　after　ages；　they

stamped　out　the　Empire　of　Monomotapa。　In　the　following　romantic　sketch

the　writer　has　venturedno　easy　taskto　suggest　incidents　such　as

might　have　accompanied　this　first　extinction　of　the　Ph？nician

Zimbabwe。　The　pursuit　indeed　is　one　in　which　he　can　only　hope　to　fill

the　place　of　a　humble　pioneer；　since　it　is　certain　that　in　times　to

come　the　dead　fortress…temples　of　South　Africa　will　occupy　the　pens　of

many　generations　of　the　writers　of　romance　who；　as　he　hopes；　may　have

more　ascertained　facts　to　build　upon　than　are　available　to…day。











ELISSA







CHAPTER　I



THE　CARAVAN



The　sun；　which　shone　upon　a　day　that　was　gathered　to　the　past　some

three　thousand　years　ago；　was　setting　in　full　glory　over　the　expanses

of　south…eastern　Africathe　Libya　of　the　ancients。　Its　last　burning

rays　fell　upon　a　cavalcade　of　weary　men；　who；　together　with　long

strings　of　camels；　asses　and　oxen；　after　much　toil　had　struggled　to

the　crest　of　a　line　of　stony　hills；　where　they　were　halted　to　recover

breath。　Before　them　lay　a　plain；　clothed　with　sere　yellow　grassfor

the　season　was　winterand　bounded　by　mountains　of　no　great　height；

upon　whose　slopes　stood　the　city　which　they　had　travelled　far　to　seek。

It　was　the　ancient　city　of　Zimboe；　whereof　the　lonely　ruins　are　known

to　us　moderns　as　Zimbabwe。



At　the　sight　of　its　flat…roofed　houses　of　sun…dried　brick；　set　upon

the　side　of　the　opposing　hill；　and　dominated　by　a　huge　circular

building　of　dark　stone；　the　caravan　raised　a　great　shout　of　joy。　It

shouted　in　several　tongues；　in　the　tongues　of　Ph？nicia；　of　Egypt；　of

the　Hebrews；　of　Arabia；　and　of　the　coasts　of　Africa；　for　all　these

peoples　were　represented　amongst　its　numbers。　Well　might　the　wanderers

cry　out　in　their　delight；　seeing　that　at　length；　after　eight　months　of

perilous　travelling　from　the　coast；　they　beheld　the　walls　of　their

city　of　rest；　of　the　golden　Ophir　of　the　Bible。　Their　company　had

started　from　the　eastern　port；　numbering　fifteen　hundred　men；　besides

women　and　children；　and　of　those　not　more　than　half　were　left　alive。

Once　a　savage　tribe　had　ambushed　them；　killing　many。　Once　the

pestilential　fever　of　the　low　lands　had　taken　them　so　that　they　died

of　it　by　scores。　Twice　also　had　they　suffered　heavily　through　hunger

and　thirst；　to　say　nothing　of　their　losses　by　the　fangs　of　lions；

crocodiles；　and　other　wild　beasts　which　with　the　country　swarmed。　Now

their　toils　were　over；　and　for　six　months；　or　perhaps　a　year；　they

might　rest　and　trade　in　the　Great　City；　enjoying　its　wealth；　its

flesh…pots；　and　the　unholy　orgies　which；　among　people　of　the　Ph？nician

race；　were　dignified　by　the　name　of　the　worship　of　the　gods　of　heaven。



Soon　the　clamour　died　away；　and　although　no　command　was　given；　the

caravan　started　on　at　speed。　All　weariness　faded　from　the　faces　of　the

wayworn　travellers；　even　the　very　camels　and　asses；　shrunk；　as　most　of

them　were；　to　mere　skeletons；　seemed　to　understand　that　labour　and

blows　were　done　with；　and　forgetting　their　loads；　shambled　unurged

down　the　stony　path。　One　man　lingered；　however。　Clearly　he　was　a

person　of　rank；　for　eight　or　ten　attendants　surrounded　him。



〃Go；〃　said　he；　〃I　wish　to　be　alone；　and　will　follow　presently。〃　So

they　bowed　to　the　earth；　and　went。



The　man　was　young；　perhaps　six　or　eight　and　twenty　years　of　age。　His

dark　skin；　burnt　almost　to　blackness　by　the　heat　of　the　sun；　together

with　the　fashion　of　his　short；　square…cut　beard　and　of　his　garments；

proclaimed　him　of　Jewish　or　Egyptian　blood；　while　the　gold　collar

about　his　neck　and　the　gold　graven　ring　upon　his　hand　showed　that　his

rank　was　high。　Indeed　this　wanderer　was　none　other　than　the　prince

Aziel；　nick…named　the　Ever…living；　because　of　a　curious　mole　upon　his

shoulder　bearing　a　resemblance　to　the　/crux　ansata/；　the　symbol　of

life　eternal　among　the　Egyptians。　By　blood　he　was　a　grandson　of

Solomon；　the　mighty　king　of　Israel；　and　born　of　a　royal　mother；　a

princess　of　Egypt。



In　stature　Aziel　was　tall；　but　somewhat　slimly　made；　having　small

bones。　His　face　was　oval　in　shape；　the　features；　especially　the　mouth；

being　fine　and　sensitive；　the　eyes　were　large；　dark；　and　full　of

thoughtthe　eyes　of　a　man　with　a　destiny。　For　the　most　part；　indeed；

they　were　sombre　and　over…full　of　thought；　but　at　times　they　could

light　up　with　a　strange　fire。



Aziel　the　prince　placed　his　hand　against　his　forehead　in　such　fashion

as　to　shade　his　face　from　the　rays　of　the　setting　sun；　and　from

beneath　its　shadow　gazed　long　and　earnestly　at　the　city　of　the　hill。



〃At　length　I　behold　thee；　thanks　be　to　God；〃　he　murmured；　for　he　was　a

worshipper　of　Jehovah；　and　not　of　his　mother's　deities；　〃and　it　is

time；　since；　to　speak　the　truth；　I　am　weary　of　this　travelling。　Now

what　fortune　shall　I　find　within　thy　walls；　O　City　of　Gold　and　devil…

servers？〃



〃Who　can　tell？〃　said　a　quiet　voice　at　his　elbow。　〃Perhaps；　Prince；　you

will　find　a　wife；　or　a　throne；　ora　grave。〃



Aziel　started；　and　turned　to　see　a　man　standing　at　his　side；　clothed

in　robes　that　had　been　rich；　but　were　now　torn　and　stained　with

travel；　and　wearing　on　his　head　a　black　cap　in　shape　not　unlike　the

fez　that　is　common　in　the　East　to…day。　The　man　was　past　middle　age；

having　a　grizzled　beard；　sharp；　hard　features　and　quick　eyes；　which

withal　were　not　unkindly。　He　was　a　Ph？nician　merchant；　much　trusted　by

Hiram；　the　King　of　Tyre；　who　had　made　him　captain　of　the　merchandise

of　this　expedition。



〃Ah！　is　it　you；　Metem？〃　said　Aziel。　〃Why　do　you　leave　your　charge　to

return　to　me？〃



〃That　I　may　guard　a　more　precious　chargeyourself；　Prince；〃　replied

the　merchant　courteously。　〃Having　brought　the　child　of　Israel　so　far

in　safety；　I　desire　to　hand　him　safely　to　the　governor　of　yonder　city。

Your　servants　told　me　that　by　your　comm