116 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. XY. 
CHAPTER XV. 
THE BEEKA MOUTH. 
During the Kafir War of 1846-7 such a drought pre¬ 
vailed throughout the frontier districts of the Cape of 
Good Hope and in Kafirland, where operations were 
being carried on against the Kafirs, that the Governor 
and Commander-in-Chief, Sir P. Maitland, was com¬ 
pelled to fall back with the troops and form a camp on 
the coast at Waterloo Bay, near the mouth of the Fish 
River. This was done in order to establish a landing- 
place on the coast for supplies, instead of having them 
carried overland from Port Elizabeth, a distance of 
about 150 miles, to form a base for renewed operations, 
and also to save the few remaining draft-oxen with 
the army, as it was almost the only portion of the 
Colony where there was still any herbage or grass left. 
c Where the carcass is there will the eagles be 
gathered together,’ and so is it with the Kafirs. For 
the sake of plunder they follow all large camps, and live 
by stealing and capturing stray and ill-guarded cattle. 
The draft and slaughter cattle had to pasture some 
