An I. D. B. in South Africa

Popular novel, first published in 1888. The story begins: "Who is that beautiful woman in the box opposite us, Herr Schwatka?" "Which one, Major? There are two, if my eyes may be trusted." "She with the dark hair?" "That is Mrs Laure, and the gentleman is her husband, Donald Laure." "What a beautiful creature, is she not?" "Yes, beautiful indeed, as many of the Cape women are. But the union of European with African produces, in their descendants, beings endowed with strange and inconsistent natures. These two bloods mingle but will not blend; more prominently are these idiosyncrasies developed where the Zulu parentage can be traced, and naturally so, for the Zulus are the most intelligent of all the African tribes. Now they are all love, tenderness, and devotion, ready to make any sacrifice for those on whom their affections are placed; again revengeful, jealous, vindictive.”