SOUTHERN AFRICA. 295 



were slain. It has iilread}^ been remarked that their prmcipal 

 weapon is a short spear, or assag-ai, termed imkonto, which is 

 not thrown, as with the Kafir tribes, bat used for stabbing-^ 

 for which purpose they rush in at once upon their opponents 

 Terrible as is this mode of fig'hting- to unwarlike nations, it 

 is calculated to eifect little ag'ainst muskets in the hands of 

 cavalry. Their numbers and impetuosity, however, rendering- 

 it impossible to keep them from the wagg'ons, the farmers 

 retired within the enclosure j where, by the time their g'uns 

 were cleansed, they were furiously assailed by the barbarian 

 horde, who, with savag-e yells and hideous war-cries, poured 

 down like locusts upon the encampment. Closing* around 

 the circle, and charging- the ahattis with determined resolu- 

 tion, ag-ain and ag-ain did they endeavour to break through 

 the line, or clamber over the awnino-s of the wao-o-ons. Deal- 

 ing-, however, with men whos elives were the stake, their at- 

 tacks were as constantly repelled. Repeated volle^^s of slug-s 

 and back-shot, discharged at arm's leng'th from the heavy 

 bores of the besieg-ed, ploughed through their crowded 

 ranks ) 



" Even as tliey fell, in files they lay, 

 Like the mower's grass at the close of day, 

 When his work is done on the levell'd plain ; 

 Such was the fall of the foremost slain." 



A desperate struggle of fifteen minutes terminated in tlieir 

 discomfiture. Hurling their javelins into the enclosure, they 

 retired in confusion over the heaps of slain, leaving upwards 

 of one hundred and fifty of their number dead or disabled 

 on the field. 



In this affair, which took place on the 29th October, Ni- 

 cholaas Potgeiter and Piet Botha were killed behind the 

 stockade, and twelve other farmers were severely wounded. 

 The assault was led in person by Kalipi, Moselekatse's prin- 

 cipal captain, and most confidential counsellor. Althou^-h 



