344 APPENDIX. 
the exception of the necessary Posts for securing the advan- 
tages thus gained, are on their march returning to Head- 
Quarters, 
“ By Command of His Excellency, 
“« W. H. Durron, Major, 
“« Military Secretary.” 
February 26th.—Two Caffer women visited the Kat 
River Settlement, and in the course of conversation with 
their acquaintances stated, that the Chief Tyali, with his 
own and some of Hintza’s men, was preparing to make a 
descent on that neighbourhood. Much importance was not 
at first attached to this statement, as similar communica- 
tions had been made before and never fulfilled: however, 
upon the report reaching Captain Armstrong, he considered 
it of sufficient moment to warrant him in despatching an 
order to recall these women, they having departed on their 
return to their own homes. It was, however, with extreme 
difficulty that any information could be obtained from them : 
nevertheless, Captain Armstrong deemed the few hints which 
he gathered of consequence enough to induce him to send out 
at daybreak, on the 19th instant, strong patroles of observa- 
tion, which were ordered to be prepared to cover and protect 
the cattle. | | 
These patroles soon sent in reports purporting that a 
large force of Caffers, supposed to be Tyali’s Commando 
which had been mustered at the Amapoli River, were in 
sight; and that large bodies of the enemy were descending 
from the several kloofs around the Settlement. Demands 
were at the same moment made for reinforcements from so 
many different points, that at one period not more than 
thirty men were left to protect the camp and the women. 
and children. 
