2 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



At the beginning of the Zulu war, I found 

 myself at Pieter-Maritzburg, where I had proceeded 

 from home by order of the War Office. My stay 

 in the pretty capital of Natal had only lasted a few 

 days, when the General in command ordered me 

 to proceed to the districts lying on the north-west 

 frontier of the Transvaal, there to enlist a large 

 force from our allies the Bechuanas, whose duties 

 were to be to assist our troops to conquer the 

 supporters of the brave Ketchewao. 



My task was no child's play, for I had to ride on 

 horseback nearly a thousand miles to reach the 

 place assigned to me to carry out my instructions ; 

 and so great was the disorder that reigned in the 

 Transvaal, that neither attendants nor guides could 

 be obtained by the General to accompany me. 



If possible, go I must, so I spared no efforts to 

 obtain followers. But although I visited the Head 

 of the Department for Native Affairs, the good old 

 Bishop, and Magistrates, I was no more successful 

 than the General had been. Almost brought to 

 despair, I ransacked my brains, and thought and 

 thought how to surmount this obstacle, when an idea 

 occurred which I resolved to adopt, viz. visit the 

 prison, and, if I could find among its inmates one 

 who promised to be a suitable person why, then, 

 have the jail-bird released, and depend on him for 

 such services as my horses and myself absolutely 

 required. 



