CHAP. XII. 
THE BATTLE OF THE GUANGA. 
83 
CHAPTER XII. 
THE BATTLE OF THE GUANGA. 
At the beginning of all wars at the Cape of Grood 
Hope the Kafirs generally have it all their own way, 
from the fact that neither the Grovernment nor the 
colonists are prepared for the outbreak; hence the 
enemy overrun, devastate, burn the homesteads, and 
carry off the flocks and herds throughout the frontier 
districts before sufficient force can be organised to 
stem the savage torrent—such was the case just pre¬ 
vious to the battle I am about to describe. 
Several of the outposts had also been besieged by 
the enemy, and convoys of provisions sent to replenish 
them had been attacked, the escorts driven back, and 
in one case a large convoy of wagons had been captured 
by the Kafirs. In consequence of this state of things 
a strong column of troops, under the command of the 
gallant Greneral Somerset, forced the passage of the Fish 
River Bush and relieved the outpost (Fort Peddie), 
which had up to that time been surrounded by the 
