2110-5-1-11

Matendele. PO White Umbuluzi Swaziland S.A.

May 21. 1927.

Dear Mr Buchan.

I enclose a photo. of a character which may be of interest to you - it is of Bob McNab, the hero of numerous adventures in bygone days here in Swaziland. This photo. is copied from the only one in existance now in possession of Mr Allister Miller of Mbabane.

I wish I could remember all Bob McNabs adventures and even his many crimes.

He seems when a boy to have lived on the farm Hamilton, one of those of McCorkindales early settlement. Here he quarrelled with a native youngster & killed him. Later, as a young man, he farmed in [Leliefontein?] near by (not far from Lake Chrissie). While there he stole all the cattle from Manie Steyn at Lake Chrissie, & got them down into Swaziland. Here he & Charlie Dupont & Constable set up a brisk thing in robbing natives - especially those coming back from Barberton mines - and killing them. He seems to have quarrelled

with Dupont, and became bosom friends with King Bunu. Him he stabbed in the royal hut at Zombode & the councillors threw him bodily over the palisade outside the hut, & called on those outside to kill this white man for he had killed the King. But Bunu called out not to do him any harm, as the knife had glanced off a rib. McNab was then given a piece of ground & a Kraal to live at, & the King warned his people not to have much to do with him as he was a wild dog. Some time later when the King was hunting-down the White Umbuluzi, some of the young men who were out to drive the game called at McNabs Kraal, & asked Bob for beer. A refusal was followed by high words, & Bob seized an assegai & killed one of the young men. The others ran off to tell the King, who merely said "Well, its your own fault. I warned you. Have nothing to do with him."

I believe eventually, and after many adventures, McNab was poisoned by

a native girl, but his end seems to be obscure.

He was a man of good family in Scotland, but had a furious temper at times, & fits of drinking - otherwise most men agree he was not too bad, and a kind friend to a friend.

My own land down here is McNabs former concession. It lapsed to the administrators & I bought it freehold at 3/3 per acre, & am living & farming on it. The little old house & store where McNab lived is just off my boundary.

I used to farm on the farm Grasdal near Lake Chrissie at one time, and well remember your visiting the Settlement there very well.

I believe you put up with Jack [Guires], & had at least a meal with my brother & myself.

I remember you well of course in the Lands office at Pretoria, but naturally you would have long since forgotten me. You kindly sent me your book on land settlement, which I foolishly lent to a neighbour, & it was lost.

Swaziland is, of course not under Union - not yet - & our whole feeling is against it

Under the Act of Union we join as a native territory - & the white interests which have grown up will barely be recognised.

We will have no flag for S.A. which does not include the Union Jack. I think most English men would welcome the S.A.P. idea of combining the Union Jack with the old Vier Kleurs.

I like the Swazi down here infinitely better than the Transvaal native. Its so strange to find one can be real friends to ones own natives.

The native question is going to be one of absorbing interest to us here. Someone said the other day we were "a few white hairs on a black cat".

I hope you will accept this photo of an out-of-the-way & unusual character, from one who thoroughly enjoys your books.

Yours sincerely

Herbert S. Parry

[image - photo of Bob McNab]