h run parallel to Sunday's river and fill the area
lying between that stream and the Buffalo. The approaches to the
beleaguered town from the south were thus covered by an immense natural
redoubt. Opposite to the very centre of the front face of this redoubt
lay Colenso. Behind this centre, and at right angles to the parapet, a
cluster of hills was flung back to the ridge of Caesar's Camp,
immediately to the south of Ladysmith. Through this confused mass of
broken ground, so favourable to the methods of fighting of its
defenders, ran the three roads which connect Colenso and Ladysmith. Of
these roads the western passed over three very strong and presumably
entrenched positions. The central had become by disuse impassable.[217]
Much of the eastern was only fit for ox-wagons. Along the face of this
strategic fort ran the Tugela, an admirable moat, as completely
commanded by the heights on its left bank as is the ditch of a permanent
work by its parapet. West of Colenso this moat was traversable by guns
and wagons at only five places, _i.e._, Robinson's, Munger's, Skiet's,
Maritz, and Potgieters drifts. Of these the four first named were
difficult for loaded wagons. Eastward of Colenso the only practicable
drift was that by which the Weenen road crosses the river. Other fords,
through which single horsemen or men on foot, breast-high, could wade,
existed both to the east and to the west, but with the exception of a
bridle drift near Colenso they were not marked on the maps in possession
of the troops, and could only be discovered by enquiry and
reconnaissance.

[Footnote 217: This central road, or old track, is not shown
on maps 3 and 4, but is shown on map 15.]

[Sidenote: Botha depends on mobility for holding his long line of
defence.]

The commandos assigned to General Louis Botha for the defence of the
line of the Tugela were obviously insufficient to man the whole of
this immense position; yet he was able to rely on the mobility of his
burghers; and on this, also, that he was so situated that his
assailant would, in order to attack him anywhere, have to traverse
distances greater than Botha need cover to reinforce from the centre
either flank as soon as threatened. Moreover, not only did the heights
he held afford a perfect view for miles over the country to the south,
but the Tugela hills are precipitous and rocky as to their southern
faces, while the approaches to them from the north present, as