CHAP. XY. 
THE BEEKA MOUTH. 
117 
distance from the camp to obtain food ; but cattle- 
guards and pickets were invariably posted. 
One day an alarm arose in camp that the cattle- 
guard had been attacked by the enemy, several of the 
herdsmen killed, and a large number of draft>-oxen 
carried off by the enemy. 
In consequence of the scarcity of forage the horses 
of both the Cape Mounted Kifl.es and 7th Dragoon 
Guards were, in the daytime, knee-haltered and 
turned out to graze; but his Excellency invariably 
kept a small body-escort of cavalry ready-saddled in 
camp. On the alarm or report of the attack reaching 
camp, and while a patrol was being formed to follow 
up the enemy, Sir P. Maitland and his personal staff, 
consisting of Colonel Cloete, Deputy Quartermaster- 
General, myself, and one or two others, at once 
mounted and with the body-guard of about twelve 
men (Cape Mounted Rifles and 7th Dragoon Gruards), 
followed up the Kafirs. I knew the country well, and 
was aware that the Kafirs must either pass inland with 
the cattle for some distance before they could cross the 
several rivers that enter the sea between the Fish and 
Keiskama Rivers, or else they must at once turn down 
to the coast and cross the rivers on the beach at their 
mouths, where there is a bar, and generally shallow 
water. I therefore led the Governor and escort at a 
gallop to the mouth of the first river, the Dart, and 
