CHAP. XVII. 
THE BOOMAH PASS. 
143 
memorable one. After a consultation it was decided 
that the troops could not march back to Fort Cox by 
the route they had come ; and Colonel Mackinnon was 
still most anxious to avoid a general war. The only 
other route was a considerable circuit, but it was a com¬ 
paratively open one. Christmas-dayat the Cape is usually 
the hottest of the whole year. The troops fell in at day¬ 
light, and the route was declared to be over the low 
range of the Gruilli-Gruilli Mountain, through the val¬ 
ley of the same name, over the 6 neck ’ at Bailie’s Grave, 
and through the Debe neck to Fort White. 
As the troops broke into column we saw large 
masses of Kaffirs collecting on all the mountains; not 
yet knowing which way our route would lie. Orders 
were given on no account to fire on the Kafirs unless 
attacked. After crossing the Keiskama river and pass¬ 
ing up a rather bushy valley the troops had to climb 
the face of a very steep mountain with bush approaching 
on each side as you reached the top. The heat this 
day was something wonderful; and as the men reached 
the top of the glade and mountain they threw them¬ 
selves down perfectly exhausted. The men had taken 
the field with their knapsacks ; these the young soldiers 
tore from their shoulders and threw away. While they 
were still somewhat in confusion a volley was opened by 
the Kafirs all along the bush, where they must have been 
lying in ambush. The cavalry were still climbing up the 
