CHAP. IX. 
THE WAR OF THE AXE. 
65 
opening almost in the dark on them, they were re¬ 
pulsed, not, however, without two or three wounded 
men falling into their hands, as also a Royal Artillery 
limber-wagon, with gun ammunition. This was on 
account of the bullocks knocking up and being unable 
to proceed. Major Gribson then marched on and joined 
our camp. Early in the morning of this day Lieutenant 
Boyes with ten men had been sent from Burns Hill 
camp with a despatch reporting the occurrence of the 
day before and the loss of Captain Bambric, and his 
small escort had to cut their way through large bodies 
of the enemy. Five of his men were killed or wounded. 
The camp was several times attacked during the 
night, but the enemy were beaten off without much 
loss on either side. Orders were also given for the camp 
and troops to move the next day to the mission station 
at Block Drift. As daylight broke the whole of the 
mountain range above the camp was seen to be densely 
crowded with the enemy, and masses of mounted men 
were formed on the lower grounds of the Chumie range. 
Before the troops moved off I was sent back with my 
squadron of Cape Mounted Rifles to endeavour to 
recover the ammunition-wagon abandoned the evening 
before. As I marched towards the bush country large 
bodies of Kafirs moved down the mountain, but did 
not come into the open. As I approached the am¬ 
munition-wagon a most horrible and ghastly sight 
