CHAP. XII. 
THE BATTLE OF THE GUANGA. 
89 
brow or ridge like a rocket, and was going headlong 
down the opposite slope, leading to the hank of the 
Gruanga River, which I knew to be about twelve feet 
deep. To avoid this, by dint of pulling I circled to 
the right round a rising contour of ground, and my 
astonishment may be imagined when I found myself 
running parallel with another large column of Kafirs 
entirely in the open, about a mile in length and twenty 
or thirty yards deep. 
These Kafirs were equally astonished, for I heard the 
exclamations of 4 Ogh ! ’ 6 Marwow ! ’ meaning a wonder, 
an apparition. I no longer held my coursing steed, but 
by dint of the off rein and near spur I managed to run 
a circle and pulled up at the very head of the column 
of troops led by the gallant old General, to whom 
I reported what I had seen. He exclaimed 4 Hurrah! ’ 
and drawing his sword, directed the cavalry, led by the 
7th Dragoon Guards, the Royal Artillery next, and the 
Cape Mounted Rifles, which were in column of route, to 
form troops and squadrons; the infantry were following 
in loose order, or rather as they became formed after 
coming out of the bush. 
The cavalry and guns advanced, as indicated, at the 
trot until we passed over the brow or knoll of ground 
before mentioned, when we came in full view of the 
column of Kafirs under Seyolo, the ‘ brave man ’ who 
would march over the open country in the daytime. 
