chap. x. THE AFFAIR IN THE COWIE BUSH. 71 
arose through all the available men at camp having 
followed up a body of Kafirs who were seen passing 
within a mile of them just as day was breaking. This 
body of the enemy had come from the direction of 
Oliphants Hoek, and were making for the Cowie Bush, 
not knowing that a column of troops had followed them 
into Albany® The Kafirs were pursued, and had taken 
cover in this ravine, and were holding their own against 
the few men when we arrived. These men had cut off 
the enemy’s escape into the forest by occupying a 
narrow part of the ravine below where the Kafirs were. 
The patrol consisted of a couple of squadrons of Cape 
Mounted Biflemen and a troop of the 7th Dragoon 
Guards, under Captain Hogge; and a couple of guns 
had also been brought up from the camp. Half the 
patrol were dismounted and sent into the bush, while 
the party from the camp held the ground below, thus 
preventing the escape of the Kafirs. Savages when 
hemmed in will fight with great determination, and we 
found it so on this occasion. They 6 pre-occupied ’ the 
ground, and had selected their positions to great advan¬ 
tage. For instance, they held the bed of the river, with 
protecting banks in bends of it, that formed natural 
‘parapets.’ We had to advance through thick bush, 
exposing the whole of our bodies, while only their heads 
would be above the banks; and moreover there was a 
tangled mass of 6 waght-en-betjee,’ 6 or wait-a-bit ’ thorn, 
