NATAL. 127 



spectacular purposes prevalent in all regular armies, 

 to the neglect of teaching the men the use of their 

 weapons and habituating them to cultivate the 

 hunter's instincts, militates against successful opera- 

 tions till some horrible mistake has to be repaired 

 at a cost which need never have been incurred. 



In the Zulu War the general in command 

 seemed to ignore the fact that the enemy was 

 essentially a brave one, as swift in its operations 

 as good irregular cavalry, and as cunning as 

 jackals. As a matter of course, ultimate victory 

 could only be achieved at a great and unnecessary 

 expense. These remarks may be taken for what 

 they are worth, but anyhow our ultimate victory 

 at Ulundi saved the lives of the Natal Colonists 

 and the Transvaal from the effects of an invasion 

 which would have been destructive at least of 

 great numbers of isolated and defenceless people, 

 although probably with very small loss to the Boer 

 commanders, who would have made very short 

 work of the Zulu hordes. Peaceful as things now 

 are in and around Natal, it would be a great 

 mistake for the Colonists to neglect training every 

 man of capable physique in the efficient use of 

 his horse and rifle, with the least possible amount 



