342 APPENDIX. 
were preparing to saddle up, the Caffers simultaneously 
stood up in a ring about them, and instantly closed in. 
“'The Groepes set themselves back to back and kept the 
enemy at bay by presenting their muskets, and threatening 
at all points; young Groepe had desired: his uncle not to 
fire too soon; a Caffer seeing an advantageous moment, 
sprung from the circle and stabbed him in the back under 
the right shoulder-blade, and so forcibly that the assagai 
came out in front, immediately under the right nipple ; he 
instantly called to his uncle, ‘ Fire now!’ and at the same 
moment he fired himself, and brought one of the enemy to 
the ground; he immediately sprung through the opening 
he had thus made, and kept retreating with his face to the 
enemy, constantly threatening with his empty gun. 
“The Caffers divided, one portion pursuing the uncle, the 
other and the greatest part, the youth; whilst retreating he 
attempted to reload, but in lifting the powder-horn for this 
purpose, he received an assagai through the left fore arm, 
which quite disabled him from loading again; immediately 
after he was wounded in the head, the assagai having gone 
through his hat; this he pulled out and threatened his as- 
sailants with. In this way he retreated about one mile, 
until, faint with loss of blood, he fell down in an open ravine, 
but kept his back to a bank; at this critical moment the 
other cattle-guards began to approach the spot, which the 
Caffers seeing, immediately fled. When the guards came 
up the assagai was still standing through his body, which 
they extracted by taking hold of the iron end, and drawing 
its whole length through the breast. Dr. Caw has been 
most assiduous in his attendance, but states that it is ex- 
tremely doubtful whether he can recover. The uncle, 
who was reported to have been killed, escaped without a 
single wound.” 
