SPOBT AND WAE. 
CHAPTER I. 
MY FIRST PATROL—1834. 
The Kafir War of 1834-5 broke out a day or two 
before Christmas. Kafir wars generally do break out 
about that time of the year, because the crops are then 
standing and advancing towards maturity; and as the 
Kafirs carry no commissariat with them they are thus 
enabled to find food everywhere ; and another reason is, 
that the weather is then warm, the days long, and the 
nights short. 
I was at the time but a boy of fifteen years 
old; nevertheless, as martial law was proclaimed, all 
civilians had to serve under arms, and I joined the 
Bathurst Volunteers, under Commandant Bowker. 
The Kafirs had already entered Lower Albany, in the 
colony, and a patrol was sent to warn the farmers and 
B 
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