e, restless, and predatory.
Almost the only property which they valued was cattle, and they were
tempted by the large flocks of the colonists to make border raids. The
force at the disposal of the settlers was not sufficient to preserve
their property, nor check these incursions, much less to punish them.
The various tribes could precipitate nearly thirty thousand, and, on
occasions, forty thousand men at once upon the colony; resolute, robust,
wild men, physically superior to the Fingoes and Hottentots within the
territory of her majesty, and equal in that respect to the Boers or
British. The marauders were also mentally superior to the black races
within the colony, and altogether more interesting savages, braver
in battle, and capable of a higher civilisation. One of these tribes,
numbering about ten thousand, was in alliance with the British, but the
whole population of the Cape able to bear arms, and the troops, taken
together, did not reach twenty thousand men. The nature of the country
favoured the action of savage assailants, especially such as were
intellectually so well capable of taking advantage of it as the Caffres.
For disciplined troops it was unfavourable, where there was such an
enemy to encounter. During the early part of the year the Caffres moved
simultaneously on various points, capturing cattle, and slaying or
driving the settlers into every post upon which they might fall back for
safety. It was not war, for the Caffres literally hunted the borders,
striking terror into the hearts of the colonists, and carrying off their
property. As the year advanced the settlers assumed a well-organised
attitude; the Fingoes and Hottentots were armed, and showed some courage
in defence of the colony and the harassed troops; by dint of courage and
exertion they appeared in various directions intime to keep the enemy
at bay, and preserve the lives and habitations of the Dutch and English
settlers. This was the state of matters when, on the 26th of April,
the Caffres came down in great numbers and swept away the cattle of the
colonists, driving them through the Fish River. In carrying away this
booty they passed, with great hardihood, close to the fortified post
called "Trompetter's Drift." The guns of the position opened with
grape and canister, at point-blank range, and accomplished a dreadful
slaughter, but none of the booty was recaptured; the enemy even earned
away all his wounded and slain.

On May the 5th a