CHAP. XVII. 
THE BOQMAH PASS. 
151 
Captain Vialls and the 45th detachment, previously 
holding the post, proceeding on with the column to 
rejoin their head-quarters, at Fort Cox. On the same 
day that we arrived at Fort White the post had been 
attacked by a Jarge body of Kafirs ; and although they 
were beaten off, they managed to capture the whole of 
the slaughter cattle, so that the post was left with a 
very small supply of provisions. 
It was well that so energetic an officer as Captain 
Mansergh was left at Fort White. He was one of the 
best war officers I have ever known, and his soldierlike 
qualities soon afterwards saved the post from being 
taken by the enemy. 
The wounded were accommodated in wattle-and- 
daub huts, but every available man was set to work to 
build or erect an earthen parapet, breast-high, between 
each hut, and to construct a couple of flanking bastions 
at corresponding angles of the square. This precaution 
was not taken too soon. On the second day the post was 
attacked by an innumerable horde of savages, led for¬ 
ward in three great columns, Sandilli and his chief 
councillors directing the whole movement, but them¬ 
selves remaining out of gunshot. He was riding 
Colonel Mackinnon’s cream-coloured charger, captured 
a few days before. 
It was nothing but Mansergh’s cool bravery that 
saved the post from being taken. There was not one 
