Passing Sibudeni store (looted, it will be remembered, some days previously by the rebels), the road entered a small portion of the forests. Here fresh meat was discovered, with signs of a fire near by. Three or four assegais, too, with small rags attached containing medicine of some sort, were seen, stuck in the ground by the rebels in accordance with their superstitious ideas. Progress now became slow, owing to occasional sniping by rebels concealed in the bush. Those who were riding dismounted and proceeded in half-sections, each man leading his horse. The Nongqai extended a few yards into the forest on either side. The infantry, after fixing bayonets, marched in single file on either edge of the track, officers in the centre. By the time the open country that forms the summit of a ridge called Bobe was reached, the infantry, owing to the heat and absence of water, were beginning to show signs of fatigue. After a halt, to give the rear time to close up, the force descended by a footpath into the valley referred to, moving in single file. The head of the column, keeping the footpath, passed on through neck marked _C_ on the plan to knolls _D_ and _E_. Another halt of about half an hour was made on the western slope of _E_. During the interval, thirty mounted men were sent to burn a kraal (Mlibo's) a few yards off on the left. Lieut. A.H.G. Blamey, with a few N.M.R., then advanced to knoll _F_ to reconnoitre. The time was about 3 p.m. Moving up the eastern incline, and when about 350 yards from the base of _E_, the scouts came upon about 300 rebels lying perdu among the weeds and grass of an old garden, a hundred yards to the right of the path. They were not seen until they simultaneously rose to charge. As they got up, they shouted "Usutu! Usutu!" at the top of their voices, and dashed at the scouts who, after quickly dismounting and firing a few shots, fell back to the rest of the guard and Nongqai at _E_ as best they could. At the first shot, the Nongqai immediately lined themselves in regular order on the right, along a contour of _E_ about half-way down the hill, and, with the N.M.R. and mounted infantry--the latter having galloped up from the kraal they were burning on hearing the fire and ranged themselves on the left--opened a heavy fusillade on the enemy as he came rushing through a hail of bullets, the bullets which up till that moment he believed would not 'enter.' Each ran stoopingly with shield before his face, as if trying to ward off the bullets, whilst a _tshokobezi_ badge tossed wildly about his head. They came on with great dash, directing their attack mainly at the left front of the position. It was at that point that most of them fell. In one or two instances, the Nongqai, who behaved with conspicuous coolness and pluck, were obliged to resort to their bayonets.