THE TRANSVAAL. 153 



target-practice is in a general way merely a waste 

 of ammunition, regarded as instruction for field 

 work, and the absurd distances at which soldiers 

 are compelled to expend the greater part of their 

 far too scanty ammunition allowances a direct 

 cause of deficiency in skill applicable to warfare. 

 Inequalities in ground, woods, banks, hedges, and 

 other obstacles will always compel real fighting 

 to be restricted to within four hundred yards or 

 thereabouts, allowing, of course, an occasional 

 exception, rarely of much importance, in deciding 

 the event of an action. 



After our defeat at Majuba the victors were 

 thoroughly ruined by the Fabian victories, their 

 food was completely exhausted, their cattle and 

 horses at Lang's Neck (chief camp) reduced to 

 skeletons which would have become carcases 

 if they had been only exposed to one of the 

 storms of wind, rain, or snow to which they would 

 have been subjected by the advent of winter, which 

 in that elevated region sets in early in April, 

 one month after our causeless surrender on con- 

 ditions. Ten pounds would have amply repaid 

 Kaffirs for setting fire to the long dry grass on 

 the line of the retreat, which weather alone would 



