CHAP. XIII. 
MURDER OF FIVE OFFICERS. 
103 
and a small body-guard climbed to the top of Sohota 
Mountain, from which he had a good view of the 
operations. The ground was most intricate and bushy, 
and the Kafirs at first made a very determined stand. 
Troops were sent along on each side of the hill, and 
there was a good deal of bush-fighting ; but the enemy 
made the most determined resistance on a long bushy 
spit of ground in the far bend of the river, and some 
reinforcements had to be sent on in support of the 
native troops, who were in advance. It was not until 
the ford itself was 6 covered’ from the top of a pre¬ 
cipice immediately below it, that the Kafirs gave way. 
You could see them carrying their wounded through 
the river, but they left a good many dead warriors on 
the field, while we had only three killed and about ten 
wounded. As usual the enemy were enabled to escape 
when they found the fight going against them, and 
there was nothing more then to be done; so the 
troops returned to camp. 
The next day the five officers were buried at the 
Koomgha camp, the officer commanding reading the im¬ 
pressive burial service over them. The funeral was at¬ 
tended by all the officers in camp, the 73rd Begiment 
being the chief mourners. 
As a tribute to the memory of Major Baker, I must 
mention that there was not a dry eye amongst the men 
of his company, he was so universally beloved by them. 
