452 
DEFENCE OF EKOWE. 
from tlie time tlie first sliot was heard we were firing shrapnel into a 
cloud of Zulus. 
The tactics of the enemy were now apparent; they evidently 
intended to engage us in front, while large numbers swept round our 
flanks. However, the plan of attack, fortunately for us, was ill-timed, 
for the movement round our right flank was executed with marvellous 
rapidity, but that round our left we were happily enabled to check by 
sending round some mounted men and natives before it had fully 
developed itself. For the first hour the Zulus fought most stubbornly ; 
having taken to the bush they directed most of their fire on our force 
on the knoll, and although we plied them with shell, rockets, and 
Martini bullets, yet it was fully an hour-and-a-half before they 
commenced to retreat from the bush on our right flank. 
The 2nd division of the column, which had extended itself from the 
bottom of the knoll down the line of wagons, now brought its right 
shoulder forward and skirmished prettily through the bush. Having 
cleared the enemy from this part we were enabled to bring the fire 
of both guns to bear on the hill in front, to which the enemy still 
clung. It was now suggested to Colonel Pearson by Commander 
Campbell of the ee Active,” that it would be advisable to drive them 
from the heights. The Naval Brigade and a company of the “ Buffs ” 
were ordered to carry out the operation under cover of the guns. 
The Jack Tars seemed mad for blood, for they charged up the hill in 
any formation, banging away right and left, driving the Zulus before 
them. The company of the “ Buffs” did their best to keep up with the 
sailors, but were not equal to the occasion, as they had been ff doubled ” 
up from the rear in order to take part in the attack. One of the 
Zulu prisoners taken in this action informed me that they considered 
they were getting the best of the action until “ those horrible men in 
white trowsers rushed up and showered lead on them” These were, of 
course, the Tar's in their ducks. The enemy now fled precipitately, 
throwing away their shields and assegais. The ground was strewn 
with dead bodies, some lying in heaps where shells had burst among 
them. The Zulu loss was estimated at 600 killed and wounded, while 
7000 attacked us; on our side 13 killed and 17 wounded, while 
Col. Pearson and Col. Parnell of the <c Buffs ” both had their chargers 
shot under them. 
Such, in brief, was the action of the Inyezane, and without further 
comment I may say we were thankful for having come out of it as we 
did. The artillery fired 65 rounds of shell; at the commencement of 
the action the practice with the shrapnel was excellent, but the want 
of a more perfect time fuze was sorely felt. Some splendid chances 
were lost through loss of time in boring and fixing. It is impossible 
to suppose that in the heat of action a time fuze can be bored with 
any degree of accuracy. A man may be possessed of great nerve, 
yet I defy him to have a perfectly steady hand on such occasions. 
Undoubtedly, one's first impulse is to discard the time fuze in action 
and use the percussion fuze altogether. When the enemy took to 
the bush the common shell and percussion fuze acted extremely 
