Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse] - Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 1

Cover

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 1

London: Cassell & Co., December 1905.

Novel record

Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

11 editions 3 illustrators 70 illustrations

Benita, An African Romance combines supernaturalism with romance and a treasure hunt. In this adventure novel the eponymous heroine acts as a clairvoyant to assist in a hunt for Portuguese gold buried in the Transvaal. Benita was serialized in Cassell's Magazine December 1905 through May 1906, and illustrated by Gordon Browne. The Cassell and Co., London, first edition published, 7 September 1906 featured 16 full-page illustrations by Browne. 15,000 copies printed. Longmans, Green, and Co., New York, published the first US edition under Haggard’s preferred title The Spirit of Bambatse, A Romance in 1906. Longmans used 8 of Browne’s illustrations, 5 are completely different from Cassell’s edition of Benita, and one has a different caption. Cassell’s "'Now good-bye, and go on'" becomes in Longmans, "By way of answer Benita pulled up the horse." Macdonald & Co., London, published an edition of Benita in 1965 illustrated by Hookway Cowles.

Further Reading

Pocock, Tom. Rider Haggard and the Lost Empire. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1993. 138.

Whatmore, D. E. H Rider Haggard: A Bibliography. Westport, CT: Meckler Publishing Co., 1987. F30, 45-46.

Edition archive

Editions of Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 1

Edition

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 1

London: Cassell & Co., December 1905.

Edition

1st UK edition

London: Cassel & Co., 1906.

The Spirit of Bambatse, 1st US edition

Edition

The Spirit of Bambatse, 1st US edition

New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906.

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 2

Edition

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 2

London: Cassell & Co., January 1906.

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 3

Edition

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 3

London: Cassell & Co., February 1906.

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 4

Edition

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 4

London: Cassell & Co., March 1906.

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 5

Edition

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 5

London: Cassell & Co., April 1906.

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 6

Edition

Cassell's Magazine, vol. 41, no. 6

London: Cassell & Co., May 1906.

1st Edition Thus

Edition

1st Edition Thus

London: Chariot Books, 1952.

Macdonald Illustrated Edition

Edition

Macdonald Illustrated Edition

London: Macdonald & Co, 1965.

1st Edition Thus

Edition

1st Edition Thus

Hollywood: Newcastle Publishing Co., 1979.

Illustrator archive

Illustrators of Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Illustration by Gordon Browne from Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Illustrator

Gordon Browne

64 illustrations in this novel

Illustration by Hookway Cowles from Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Illustrator

Hookway Cowles

1 illustration in this novel

Illustration by Unknown from Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Illustrator

Unknown

5 illustrations in this novel

Illustration archive

Illustrations from Benita [The Spirit of Bambatse]

Illustration

Benita

After all, he was her father

Illustration

After all, he was her father

'I can shoot as well as you friend'

Illustration

'I can shoot as well as you friend'

Its foam began to return seawards, sucking him with it

Illustration

Its foam began to return seawards, sucking him with it

He offered to buy a half interest in the farm

Illustration

He offered to buy a half interest in the farm

I shall remember you if I live a hundred years

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I shall remember you if I live a hundred years

He let himself down the falls

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He let himself down the falls

Illustration

'Who are you?'

'Behold the city of my people'

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'Behold the city of my people'

Great numbers of shrouded forms.

Illustration

Great numbers of shrouded forms.

'Have done with this nonsense.'

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'Have done with this nonsense.'

Like a stranded fish upon the shingle.

Illustration

Like a stranded fish upon the shingle.

She looked at him leaning there lost in thought.

Illustration

She looked at him leaning there lost in thought.

She stood quite still, afraid to move.

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She stood quite still, afraid to move.

There they stood. All four of them, staring at the white Benita.

Illustration

There they stood. All four of them, staring at the white Benita.

'Now good-bye, and go on.'

Illustration

'Now good-bye, and go on.'

Down-dead or dying-went the matabele.

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Down-dead or dying-went the matabele.

Flying from death to death.

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Flying from death to death.

'Great heaven,' said Meyer 'it is Portuguese!'

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'Great heaven,' said Meyer 'it is Portuguese!'

Benita heard the bullet clap upon the hide shield

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Benita heard the bullet clap upon the hide shield

Meyer was disarmed and bound fast to a tree.

Illustration

Meyer was disarmed and bound fast to a tree.

Benita saw Jacob Meyer for the first time.

Illustration

Benita saw Jacob Meyer for the first time.

He looked like a panther about to spring.

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He looked like a panther about to spring.

He let himself down the falls

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He let himself down the falls

Behold! Before her lay the burst bag.

Illustration

Behold! Before her lay the burst bag.

There they stood, all four of them...staring at the white Benita

Illustration

There they stood, all four of them...staring at the white Benita

He looked like a panther about to spring.

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He looked like a panther about to spring.

'White maiden,' he said... 'For you at least I have good tidings'

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'White maiden,' he said... 'For you at least I have good tidings'

Loss of nerve... caused his foot to slip

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Loss of nerve... caused his foot to slip

By way of answer Benita pulled up the horse

Illustration

By way of answer Benita pulled up the horse

'Who gave you and your brother yonder your lives?'

Illustration

'Who gave you and your brother yonder your lives?'

Illustration

Benita

There they stood, all four of them...staring at the white Benita

Illustration

There they stood, all four of them...staring at the white Benita

'White maiden,' he said,... 'For you at least I have good tidings'

Illustration

'White maiden,' he said,... 'For you at least I have good tidings'

Then suddenly hurled herself into the river

Illustration

Then suddenly hurled herself into the river

'Behold the city of my people'

Illustration

'Behold the city of my people'

Benita saw Jacob Meyer for the first time

Illustration

Benita saw Jacob Meyer for the first time

Loss of nerve... caused his foot to slip

Illustration

Loss of nerve... caused his foot to slip

We have a message for your ear, little old man

Illustration

We have a message for your ear, little old man

Illustration

Benita

At last Meyer grew furious... and began to threaten

Illustration

At last Meyer grew furious... and began to threaten

Down—dead or dying—went the matabele

Illustration

Down—dead or dying—went the matabele

On the cemented floor lay great numbers of shrouded forms

Illustration

On the cemented floor lay great numbers of shrouded forms

Illustration

Benita

She had come here with a purpose

Illustration

She had come here with a purpose

He... aimed and fired at the soldier who was coming on carelessly in the open

Illustration

He... aimed and fired at the soldier who was coming on carelessly in the open

To be continued

Illustration

To be continued

Benita heard the bullet clap upon the hide shield

Illustration

Benita heard the bullet clap upon the hide shield

He looked like a panther about to spring

Illustration

He looked like a panther about to spring

By way of answer Benita pulled up the horse

Illustration

By way of answer Benita pulled up the horse

Illustration

Benita

A few trial shots gave him the range,..... and then he began operations

Illustration

A few trial shots gave him the range,..... and then he began operations

'Great heaven!' said Meyer, 'it is Portuguese,' and for a while the terror of the thing struck him dumb

Illustration

'Great heaven!' said Meyer, 'it is Portuguese,' and for a while the terror of the thing struck him dumb

'Have done with this nonsense,' she said

Illustration

'Have done with this nonsense,' she said

She held the lamp above her head, and by its light perceived a figure standing between her and the entrance to the cave

Illustration

She held the lamp above her head, and by its light perceived a figure standing between her and the entrance to the cave

She stood quite still, afraid to move

Illustration

She stood quite still, afraid to move

As she staggered backwards she saw a huge and loathesome shape rushing away into the darkness

Illustration

As she staggered backwards she saw a huge and loathesome shape rushing away into the darkness

'Benita! Benita! Have you come to tell me that I must join you?'

Illustration

'Benita! Benita! Have you come to tell me that I must join you?'

Behold! Before her lay the burst bag

Illustration

Behold! Before her lay the burst bag

'Who gave you and your brother yonder your lives?'

Illustration

'Who gave you and your brother yonder your lives?'

Now began Benita's terrible time

Illustration

Now began Benita's terrible time

'No more shall the white witch stand upon the pillar point'

Illustration

'No more shall the white witch stand upon the pillar point'

Illustration

Benita

Splashing through the mud upon the unknown banks of the Zambesi, flying from death to death!

Illustration

Splashing through the mud upon the unknown banks of the Zambesi, flying from death to death!

'No lie,' he screamed, 'no lie,' as he dragged the stuff out and smelt at it

Illustration

'No lie,' he screamed, 'no lie,' as he dragged the stuff out and smelt at it

Illustration

The End

Meyer was disarmed and bound fast to a tree

Illustration

Meyer was disarmed and bound fast to a tree

Benita, An African Adventure

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Benita, An African Adventure

Illustration

Benita

The Spirit of Bambatse

Illustration

The Spirit of Bambatse