126 SOUTH AFRICA. 



length, but very thick in proportion. They are 

 fairly numerous, and I must say that in two years 

 spent in this Colony I saw more snakes than during 

 the whole of my long sojourn in other parts of 

 Africa. 



The population of Natal may be taken at about 

 35,000 whites and perhaps 400,000 Zulus, but I 

 do not anticipate any serious native outbreak in 

 the future, as the intercolonial natives are con- 

 tented and happy, and even if inclined for an 

 outbreak, are so scattered in small kraals that 

 combination would be impossible before efficient 

 means for defence could be organised. The 

 country throughout owes a great debt of gratitude 

 to the late Sir Bartle Frere for breaking up the 

 military organisation of the Zulu regime, although 

 the cost entailed was great in consequence of the 

 grievous shortcomings of Lord Chelmsford, which 

 entailed the wholesale massacre of our 24th 

 Regiment at Inshandwana, not to mention that 

 of the Natalian Colonists who fell with them. 

 The fact is, military officers are, as a rule, quite 

 unfit for command in warfare with brave savage 

 tribes, as has been proved by too many sad 

 reverses in South Africa. The severe training for 



