SOUTHERN AFRICA. 313 



considerable loss, leaving* upwards of one thousand of the 

 savag^es stretched upon the field. A g-eneral pursuit followed 

 on the part of the victorious Zooloos^ until the country 

 becoming" more open and man}' others of their number being- 

 shot, they finally retired, sending- a few spies to hover in 

 the rear of the farmers, and ascertain where they should 

 bivouac for the nig-ht. But the object of this manoeuvre 

 being' perceived, a party of Boors concealed themselves in 

 a hig'h field of Indian corn, and intercepting- the scouts, left 

 not one alive to fulfil the errand upon which he had been 

 deputed. 



On the very day that this severe action was foug'ht, the 

 Natal settlers, under an Eng-lishman named Big-gar, ag-ain 

 marched from the Port in order to co-operate with the boors; 

 but of eig-ht or nine hundred men, coloured and European, 

 who composed the force, scarcely more than half that number 

 were provided with muskets or ammunition. On the 17th 

 they reached the Tug-ala river, near which was a military post 

 under the command of a Captain styled Zola. It was situated 

 immediately under the brow of a bleak hill, the country 

 below which was intersected by numerous bare and deep 

 ravines. The commando attempted to carry this position, 

 but whilst eng-ag-ed, the enemy were unexpectedly reinforced 

 by the whole Zooloo army, twelve thousand strong-, flushed 

 with the recent victory it had achieved, and bent upon the 

 destruction of the settlement. The Natal force immediately 

 formed into a circle, those who carried muskets occupying 

 the front rank, and covering- the spearmen in the centre. A 

 desperate and bloody strug-g-le of several hours' duration, 

 ag-ain terminated most disastrously. The fearful odds op- 

 posed to the settlers finally prevailed — their ranks were 

 broken, and the Zooloo horde rushed in. Two-thirds of the 

 Natal settlers were slain ', Big-g-ar, and thirteen other of the 

 principal European inhabitants being- among-st the number ; 



