CHAP. XVII. 
THE BOOMAH PASS. 
153 
White was partly formed of these men. The three 
deserters from the Cape Mounted Bifles were at once 
taken up to Sandilli and placed upon his staff. 
During the two days’ respite the suttlers of the 
post had all taken refuge within the fort, and their 
houses had been pulled down, with the exception of the 
brick gables, so that there was very little cover. The 
Kafirs could not resist firing as they advanced; but 
Mansergh allowed the columns to approach to within 
thirty yards, when we heard his stentorian voice give 
the order, 4 Men, steady; except the reserves, fire ! ’ And 
then such a volley was poured into the heads of the 
savage columns that they fell into utter confusion. 
Three chiefs and twenty-two men were shot down. 
During the confusion caused by trying to carry off the 
chiefs the reserves put in their volley, and there was 
then such a continuous fire kept up from the handful 
of men that the Kafirs turned and fled. It was then 
that the British cheer rang from each throat. The 
Kafirs took cover in all the gullies, cranks, and crannies 
behind the gables of the houses and the banks of the 
river, and kept up a desultory fire on the post for about 
three hours ; but they came no more to the attack, and 
finally drew off to the high grounds in the neighbour¬ 
hood. By this time the whole of Kafirland was in arms 
against us, and Sir Harry Smith was shut up at Fort 
Cox for more than ten days, without any communica- 
