Quartermain.

This is coolbert:

From the book "Child of Storm", "Chapter II. The Moonshine of Zikali" by H. Rider Haggard:

"'You cannot read the signs?' he said, holding it towards me; and when I shook my head went on: 'Well, I can, as you white men read a book. All your history is written here, Macumazahn . . . All your future, also, a very strange future,' and he scanned the stone with interest. 'Yes, yes; a wonderful life, and a noble death far away.'"

Zikali, the Zulu sangoma [wizard] foretells the future for the hero of the book, Allan Quartermain. A FUTURE TO INCLUDE A "NOBLE DEATH FAR AWAY"!!

[Macumazahn is the name by which the Zulu refer to Quartermain!! Means either: "Watcher-by-Night" or "One who stands out"]

"Sangoma: Whereas the Inyanga treats physical disease, the Sangoma is concerned with the psychic world"

Zulu wizards, dwarfs with magical and mystical powers, able to leave the body at will, in a trance, travel to the "other world", and divine the future. Such a person, in the FICTIONAL ACCOUNT OF H. RIDER HAGGARD, IS ZIKALI!!

The person of Allan Quartermain, the archetype of the great white hunter in Africa, exploring regions unknown and untrod by any white man prior, is patterned upon the real life person of Frederick Selous. An Englishman who in the second half of the nineteenth century, did explore and penetrate regions of African unknown to the civilized world.

"Frederick Courteney Selous DSO . . . famous for his exploits in south and east of Africa. His real-life adventures inspired Sir H. Rider Haggard to create the fictional Allan Quatermain character."

Selous, a man of vigor and ability and natural courage, DID INDEED DIE A NOBLE DEATH IN A PLACE FAR AWAY!!

Volunteered for military service in World War One [WW1], AT THE ADVANCED AGE OF SIXTY FOUR YEARS, LEADING TROOPS INTO COMBAT. KILLED IN ACTION!!

"In World War I, at the age of 64, Selous participated in the fighting in East Africa, joining as a Captain in the uniquely composed 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers"

"On January 4, 1917, Selous was fighting a bush-war on the banks of the Rufiji river, against the German colonial Schutztruppen, in odds outnumbered one to five. That morning, in combat . . . he raised his head and binoculars to locate the enemy, and was shot in the head by a German sniper. He was killed instantly."

A noble death indeed for a man of sixty four years, not eschewing combat even in advanced years, under the most rugged and dangerous of circumstances!!

The book - - "Child of Storm" - - was only written - - published - - and released for to the general public - - in 1912!! Two years before the start of WW1!

"H. RIDER HAGGARD. - - Ditchingham, 12th October, 1912."

Selous in real life was Quartermain in fiction. The death of Quartermain in fiction as foretold by the Zulu wizard Zikali was indeed the death of Selous in real life!!

Truth is stranger than fiction? In this case truth and fiction intermingle in an inexplicable and unanticipated manner?

coolbert.