present instance two short off-saddles only were indulged in; the first
not far from the centre of the flat, and the next after the Manzana
river had been safely crossed. The country now became more broken and
the pace was reduced to a walk, but before the sun was well up the goal
was in sight, and the herds of cattle were seen calmly feeding on the
slopes. No suspicion would seem to have been excited, and it is more
than probable that the very smallness of the attacking force, and its
being all composed of the mounted branch, contributed to the success of
the affair. The kraal was exceedingly well built, and seen from a
distance of 1200 or 1000 yards it was doubtful whether it held a large
guard or not. Cautiously yet swiftly advancing, Colonel Buller felt his
way, with a few of his best shots thrown out as vedettes. These men soon
encountered some scattered Zulus, who did not seem at all prepared for
any hostile demonstration, but on retiring towards the hills they were
reinforced by several other larger bodies, who had evidently been sent
out to reconnoitre. After a few shots had been fired, a sudden and
simultaneous advance was made on two sides of the kraal, and almost
without resistance on the part of its defenders the kraal was captured.
Two hundred and fifty well-built huts were counted by Buller's men, who,
losing not a moment, collected no less than four hundred head of cattle,
and a large quantity of grain, and then set fire to the magazine. Six
Zulus were killed in the capture of the place, and although more than
one body of them were seen hovering about in the vicinity, numbering
severally 100 to 200 and 300 men, no opposition was offered to the
rear-guard or patrols.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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