134 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
The Kaffirs who were on the victorious side told 
me that the Tugela was red with blood, and that the 
Inyoni, another river, about eight miles nearer, was 
so foetid from the number of dead bodies, that no 
man could drink the water, and that I should walk 
over dead bodies all the way between the Matakoola 
and the Tugela, a distance of fifteen long miles. 
As there was every appearance of heavy rain, I 
feared the rivers would be flooded, and that I might 
be detained an indefinite time, which would have 
been horrible, as my stores were all gone, and I had 
only twenty bullets left. I therefore resolved to cross 
the river, come what might, sorely against the will of 
the Kaffirs, who were in dread of their lives, and yet 
afraid of leaving me. We slept at the Umsindoosie, 
and were almost eaten up by mosquitoes. 
9 tli. — Started before daylight, being uncommonly 
anxious to get to the Missionary Station to hear the 
news. It rained heavily the greater part of the day, 
but I stuck at it for fully twelve hours, and reached 
the station shortly after sunset. I found from Mr. 
Aftebro that the country was nearly depopulated, 
thousands and thousands of men, women, and 
children being stabbed or drowned in attempting to 
cross the Tugela. He calculated that fully one-fourth 
of the whole Zulu nation must have been destroyed, 
and told me that 8,000 head of cattle had passed his 
station alone. The victors lost a great number of 
people also. It is most extraordinary to hear them 
talk about the fight; they appear to think no more 
