1812. THE CAFFRE WAR. — COLONIAL MILITIA. — COMMANDO. HQ 
without risk, invited me to stop the night at his house, as the waters, 
he said, would probably have sufficiently subsided before the next 
day. I therefore proceeded no farther ; but accepted the invitation 
and entered his friendly cottage ; while our baggage was unloaded at 
a small straw hut in which my men were lodged. 
All the buildings were of the most miserable description, and 
very little superior to that of which a representation has been given 
in the first volume.* The hut which was on this occasion, appro- 
priated to my Hottentots, could not, strictly, be called a shelter, as 
the rain in the night, ran through the roof upon them. Yet still we 
experienced hospitality, and the evening passed in a manner which 
was far from unpleasant. 
Nieukerk was just returned from the commando, as the farmers 
term every expedition of a military nature ; where he had been three 
months on duty ; and gave us some account of the Cajf're war, the 
object of which, was to drive the Caffres out of the Zuureveld, a 
district formerly purchased, or taken from them, by the Dutch ; but 
which they afterwards invaded, and had kept possession of for some 
years, and obliged the white inhabitants to take refuge in the older 
districts of the colony. This warfare had been going on, already 
four months, and was not likely soon to terminate ; for although 
possession of the country had been regained by the Cape troops aided 
by the militia of boors, it was found necessary to keep these troops 
constantly stationed on the frontier, to confine the enemy within 
their own territory ; but who nevertheless kept the soldiery and 
farmers always on the alert to prevent their predatory incursions into 
the colony. 
This 7niliiia, or comtnando, consists of boors drawn from the 
different districts of the Colony, by the immediate requisition of their 
proper veldcornets, who, on such occasions, call out the inhabitants, 
not by lot, but by routine. The men so called out, repair to the 
rendezvous, generally mounted on horseback and armed with a 
musket of their own ; and most frequently attended by one of their 
* At page 238. 
