deceived the Makalakas, who could not conceive it possible
that a hostile force would pass a hut without setting it alight, so
they slept in fancied security, little deeming what was in store for
them.

Kondwana divided his force into three, each division numbering nearly a
hundred men. These took up positions at equidistant points, lines
connecting which would have formed an equilateral triangle, the little
cluster of huts surrounded by the sleeping Makalakas being in the
centre. The dogs, tired of barking at the different parties of
Makalakas which had arrived during the night, did not make so much of a
disturbance as might have been expected under the circumstances. The
three divisions formed themselves into double lines, and then advanced
slowly inwards until, at a signal from Kondwana, they yelled out the
war cry and rushed forward. In a few minutes all was over. The
unfortunate Makalakas were an easy prey; they hardly attempted to
resist, but rushed from one side to the other, vainly attempting to
escape from the ring of spears. By sheer weight of numbers, they at
length broke through on the one side, and then about half of them
escaped to the forest. They left over two hundred bodies on the field.
The Zulus did not lose a man.

Some women and children rushed out of the huts. Most of them were
slain, but some few were taken prisoners. Morning soon broke, and
showed the dead lying in every direction, and the ground strewn with
weapons which had been cast away in the rout. A few copper ornaments
were found upon some of the women, who, upon being questioned, pointed
to the north and said that the metal had been brought from there long
ago.

The kraal was found to be full of cattle, some of which were at once
slaughtered and eaten. Shortly after sunrise, a party of about a
hundred Makalakas approached to within a short distance of the huts.
When they caught sight of the dead bodies they turned and fled, body
pursued by the Zulus for a short distance. None were, however, caught.
Kondwana had again given the strictest orders that no huts were to be
burnt, so as to avoid spreading the alarm to a distance, for as long a
time as possible.

Next morning, large bodies of Makalakas appeared on the surrounding
hills, but they were evidently afraid to come near. About midday three
men approached to within hailing distance, and asked that three of the
Zulus might come out for the purpose of parleying. So Kondwana and two