CONTESTS OF DUTCH AND MATABILII. 321 
of their numbers were murdered. Elated by 
this partial success, the Matabilii again attacked 
another party of boers, and killed twenty-five 
more of them, massacring their wives, and 
destroying and plundering their property. A 
few of this last party, however, escaping gave 
notice of danger to their neighbours, who had 
barely time to collect into a " laager V or camp, 
when they were attacked by the whole army of 
the Matabilii. A most desperate struggle then 
ensued. The boers manfully maintained their 
stand, and their enemies unable to force en- 
tance to their camp, captured and drove away 
40,000 of their sheep and 6000 oxen. 
These disasters were, of course, communicated 
by the Dutch, to their friends at Thaba JSPchu, 
who at once sent to their assistance and relief ; 
and, mustering a party of 200 men headed 
by Grerrit Maritz, they crossed the Yaal, making 
a flank movement across the western boun- 
dary. Here they attacked one of Matzule-Kat- 
zes' chief military towns, named Mosega, and, 
in revenge, killed several hundreds of his prin- 
cipal warriors, recovering about 7000 head of 
cattle, together with the wagons which the 
Matabilii had taken there in triumph. 
Immediately on their return from this victo- 
rious foray, disunion amongst themselves again 
broke out, but, at this period, Pieter Eetief 
Y 
