assegais, shields, feathers, ear and head
ornaments, skins, furs, blankets, and ever; guns were lying about in
confusion, evidently cast away in their headlong flight by the Zulus,
but that none of these had been seen.

The column, however, advanced with every precaution, as it was possible
that Dabulamanzi might procure reinforcements. No enemy, however, was
met with, and the column continued its march until they were met by
Colonel Pearson with 500 men, coming out to lend a hand to them in case
they should be attacked. The united column then marched into Ekowe.
The health of the garrison had suffered much from exposure to the sun
and rain, and from the want of vegetables and useful medicine. Beef
they had plenty of, as it was considered advisable to kill and consume
the waggon-oxen rather than see them die from want of forage.

The great event of the siege had been the discovery of certain strange
flashes of light on the white walls of the church-tower; these, after
puzzling many of the officers and soldiers, were at length brought under
the notice of an officer of the naval brigade, who had been trained in
the use of the heliograph, and he was able at once to explain the
mystery. They were three days before they could contrive an apparatus,
which could be worked, to reply. Fortunately an old mirror was found,
and communication was opened. The effect of their renewed intercourse
with the outer world, and of learning the preparations which were being
made for their relief, acted more beneficially on the health of the
imprisoned garrison than all the tonics the hospital could afford.
Nevertheless between the commencement of the siege and the arrival of
the relief thirty deaths had occurred.

To the great regret of the garrison they found that it had been
determined by the general to abandon the fort which they had held so
long, as the whole force was required in Natal for operations in the
veld in conjunction with the reinforcements on their way out. Before
leaving, however, it was determined to strike another blow at
Dabulamanzi, whose private residence had escaped at the time that his
kraal was burnt. A small party of about 200 men therefore went out and
fired the place without resistance. Ekowe was evacuated, and, having
left a garrison at Ginghilovo, Lord Chelmsford retired with his force
across the Tugela.

Every day for the next fortnight news reached Newcastle of the arrival
of one or more transport