98 BlogTaphij vf the late Captain Dugald Carmkhael 



hours over the scorching sands of Africa, exhausted us to such 

 a degree, that even the exhilarating sight of a flying enemy 

 could not prevent immense numbers from escaping to the rear. 



" Our force of every description in this action was about five 

 thousand men ; that of the enemy three thousand. The loss 

 was neai'ly equal, being about three hundred in killed and 

 wounded. After the engagement, we advanced as far as Reitt 

 Valley, where we received from the fleet a supply of provisions 

 and water. Next morning we marched on towards Cape Town, 

 and had approached within a few miles of it, when we were met 

 by a flag of truce, demanding a cessation of hostilities for forty- 

 eight hours, in order to arrange terms of capitulation. Sir Da- 

 vid Baird returned for answer that they should have six hours 

 only, and that, if the place was not surrendered at the expiration 

 of that period, he would enter it by storm in the course of the 

 night.' This menace had the desired effect, and the 59th regi- 

 ment marched in that evening and took possession of the lines. 

 The rest of the troops lay on their arras, at the mouth of the 

 Salt River, until three o'clock p. m. next day, at which hour 

 the British flag was hoisted on the castle, a royal salute was 

 fired by the ships of war, and the Highland brigade marched to 

 Wynberg. 



" We thus, without much difficulty, got possession of the 

 capital, but Jansen was still unsubdued. After the action at 

 Blueberg, he had retired with his whole force to the pass of 

 Hottentot's Holland Kloof, where he designed to establish him- 

 self in such a manner as should cut off the communication of 

 Capetown with the interior. With a view to dislodge him 

 from this stronghold, the Highland brigade and 59th regiment 

 marched on the 12th to Stettenbock, and were followed, in a 

 few days, by Sir David Baird in person. After some prelimi- 

 nary overtures between the two genei'als, a negociation was set 

 on foot, which terminated in the formal cession of the whole 

 colony to the British arms." 



" The regiment being ordered to Capetown, Captain Car- 

 michael has time to describe its remarkable features. 



'■' The first thing which arrests the attention of a stranger, on 

 his arrival at Capetown, is the wonderful diversity in the fea- 

 tures, colour, and costume of the various descriptions of people 



