How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Up here on the tops is a small and lovely valley, between two hills that shelter it. There is a house there, and flat ploughed fields; they will tell you that it is one of the finest farms of this countryside. It is called High Place, the farm and dwelling-place of James Jarvis, Esquire, and it stands high above Ndotsheni, and the great valley of the Umzimkulu. (2.18.1)
Everything about the Jarvis farm at High Place speaks of freedom: rather than being stuck down in the dry river valley with Ndotsheni, it's at the top of the mountains. It is well-tended and fertile, which again makes it totally different from Ndotsheni. The contrast that Paton builds between High Place and Ndotsheni speaks to the larger differences in quality of life between the white and black characters in the novel. Jarvis is able to help Ndotsheni because he has the economic freedom to do so, a luxury that Kumalo does not share.
Quote #8
— Are you ill, umfundisi?
— I shall recover, umnumzana. (2.25.6-7)
When Jarvis and Kumalo first meet, before Jarvis finds out who Kumalo is, he sees that Kumalo looks sick. Kumalo, of course, does recognize Jarvis as the rich farmer of High Place and as Arthur's father, which is what makes him feel so unwell.
Jarvis addresses Kumalo in Zulu as umfundisi, as a sign of respect. But Kumalo answers him with the respectful umnumzana as a sign of guilt and responsibility. Paton uses these two terms to show (a) how horribly awkward this meeting is, and (b) the complex power dynamics in this conversation. Jarvis is free to address Kumalo however he wants, and he chooses a respectful term because he is a good man. Kumalo, on the other hand, is trapped by both his social position and his guilt towards Jarvis, so he has to use a more respectful term.
Quote #9
So the young man told them all he would have done in the other valley, how the people must stop burning the dung and must put it back in the land, how they must gather the weeds together and treat them, and not leave them to wither in the sun [….] But these were hard things to do, because the people must learn that it is harmful for each man to wrest a living from his own little piece of ground. Some must give up their ground for trees, and some for pastures. (3.33.80)
When Mr. Letsitsi starts going into detail about what the farmers of Ndotsheni need to do to improve the productivity of their land, he has to talk to them about sacrifice. For the good of the many, some of the farmers will have to give up their crops to plant trees to hold the soil and to grow pastures to graze cattle. Mr. Letsitsi is trying to make the case that sometimes, to achieve happiness for the greatest number of people, you have to give up some of your own freedoms in favor of a broader community-centered vision for the future.