prepared to “draw the sword” to prove how much they are in earnest. The excitement, however, calmed down for the time being, and Sir Bartle Frere departed. During his stay in Pretoria, he desired Colonel Rowlands to make preparations to resume hostilities against Sikukuni, and accordingly, by the end of May, that officer had increased the number of his mounted volunteers by 450. He then made a vain attempt to induce Lord Chelmsford to spare him another regiment of regular troops; but finding that this was decidedly refused, and that no operations were likely to take place in the Transvaal for some time, he accepted the General’s offer of a brigade in the lower column. On the arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley at Port Durnford, he applied to that general for the command in case operations should be resumed in the Transvaal. To this he had a strong claim, both on account of his experience and of his laborious services there; but the request was refused. CHAPTER XVI. NO. 4 COLUMN—INTOMBI—INDHLOBANE—KAMBULA—KING’S MESSENGERS. On January 6th, No. 4 Column, under Colonel Wood, V.C., C.B.—strength previously detailed—crossed the Blood River (the Zulu boundary according to the award of the Commission) and advanced to Bemba’s Kop. On the 11th, Colonel Wood met the General halfway to Rorke’s Drift, and received instructions “to occupy himself with the tribes on his front and left flank, notably Seketwayo,” until No. 3 Column was ready to advance to Isipezi Hill, when he was to proceed to Ingwe, both columns to establish advanced depôts, bring up supplies, and then move forward. Colonel Wood induced the Zulu chief Bemba to give up his arms and come in, which he did on the 10th, bringing with him about eighty of his people and 1000 head of cattle, sheep, and goats; they were sent to Utrecht. On the 11th, Colonel Wood, who had advanced with a portion of the force from Bemba’s Kop towards Rorke’s Drift to meet the General on his return march, seized about 2000 head of cattle, the owners of which were quietly tending them as usual (these were supposed to be Sihayo’s), and next day attacked a petty chief, who was said to have “given considerable trouble to the Transvaal farmers”, with the result of seven Zulus killed and upwards of 500 head of cattle captured. Some 2000 to 3000 head of cattle were also taken from the Sondolosi tribe,[161] a slight resistance being offered by the Zulus, of whom one was killed. Colonel Wood _thus_ endeavoured to induce Seketwayo’s people to be pacified, and was “therefore most anxious to refrain from taking any steps which might discourage these men from coming in!”