278 
THE NEW AFRICA 
in full force, many floundering out of tlieir depth in the water, 
while trying to cross, Da Tapo opened lire on them with 
breechloading rifles, slaying all those in the water, and 
bringing the rest to an effectual standstill. 
Tschukoorroo, who fought with Da Tapo, said that the 
Matabele were quite surprised at the effect of their fire, and 
drew back a little from the drift, shouting vengeance when 
the main body should come up. Da Tapo and his warriors 
were not behind at invective, and challenged them to come 
on at once, taunting them with cowardice, an insult the 
Matabele least can brook, and hoping that their foes, who were 
bad swimmers and almost helpless in the water, would make a 
rush for the crossing-place again, and thus get into difficulties 
in the deep water on either side of the drift. Infuriated at 
last, the Matabele made the expected rush, when, to encourage 
them further, Da Tapo and his men, with well-assumed fear 
pretended to fly, causing nearly all the Matabele there to 
scramble into the water in chase. Well assured that they 
were now at their mercy, Da Tapo and his men rushed back 
to the bank and opened fire on the helpless mass, killing all 
they could in the short time before the Matabele could return 
to their side of the stream. 
Loud and long was the derision hurled after the retiring 
Matabele by Da Tapo, who, overjoyed at the success of his 
stratagem, made a camp at the drift, intending to hold the 
position against all comers as long as it was necessary, and his 
ammunition held out. He killed for his people an ox that 
had been left behind exhausted, and, lighting a huge fire 
derisively invited the Matabele to come and feast with him, 
as they must surely be hungry, pointing out that the meat 
they had already killed—the children—was not fit food for 
even Matabele stomachs, although they could not under¬ 
stand for what other purpose they, the brave Amatabele, had 
butchered such little innocents. The Matabele, who really were 
in great straits from hunger, foiled in their attempt to get 
cattle, came to the drift, and smoking their ‘ dacha ’ pipes to 
