464 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



hills, the steep and rugged road often scarped out of 

 their sides. Here many of the hardest battles were 

 fought between our troops and the natives, and in many 

 of the actions we had not much to boast of, yet the 

 Kaffirs in those days were only armed with assegais, 

 while our infantry soldiers had muskets, and in the 

 majority of instances were supported by cavalry and 

 artillery. Now that the natives are well armed how 

 would the battle go ? Very doubtful indeed I should 

 think the issue of the struggle, if fought in bush or 

 rocky ground. I told several leading politicians and 

 gentlemen, when the late war between the Boers and 

 Kaffirs took place, that the former would inevitably be 

 beaten. Not one believed me, their answer invariably 

 was, "The Boers have always thrashed them, and will 

 assuredly do so again." "Yes, when the native had but an 

 assegai ; but now he has a rifle or musket, and knows how 

 to use it. Mark my words, the Boer will be worsted 

 in the coming fight." Who was right and who was 

 wrong is now a matter of history. 



I hope I shall never see English soldiers engaged with 

 such an enemy, for the natives with their present arms 

 are as fine light infantry as can be found courageous, 

 active, and enduring, and, better than all, requiring 

 little or no commissariat. Can it be otherwise with 

 men who follow the chase from childhood upwards, with 

 courage enough to attack the most dangerous animal, 

 and stealth sufficient to approach the most wary? 

 Africanders would be better than Englishmen in such 

 a war, but native troops led by Africander officers would 

 be better still. It is useless to say more on this subject 

 a subject we will find a serious one at no distant day 

 for to give the offer of a word of advice to one of our 



