n were sent from the Cape, so that the
winter of 1838 was passed over, though not without considerable
suffering and privation.

Scarcely had the winter passed, and spring commenced, than Dingaan, who
had been carefully preparing his army, and who had been employing his
spies so as to learn the state of his neighbours, suddenly gave the
word, and in August of the same year the Zulu army suddenly rushed into
the Natal district, and attacked the emigrants. The farmers, however,
were now on the alert. They had sent out scouts, and these brought them
timely notice of the advance of their enemies. The waggons were used as
fortifications, and every precaution was taken to make as effective a
defence as possible. The result was that the Zulus failed to obtain an
entrance into any one of the lagers, and were beaten off with great
loss. This victory on the part of the emigrants, although a barren one,
had the effect of encouraging those who had before been undecided about
joining them, and small parties continued to come in until the beginning
of December, when a party of above four hundred and fifty men were
assembled, all mounted, and armed with good guns. These were joined by
another party from the Bay of Natal, the whole combined being a
formidable force.

The leader of this force had formerly been a field-cornet at Graaf
Reinet, and was acquainted in a measure with some of the precautions
used in military manoeuvres or movements. The advance was cautiously
conducted, and each night a camp was formed and defences prepared. The
advance had been thus conducted until the Umslatoos river was reached,
when Hans, who had joined this party, and had ridden on before in order
to guard against surprise, saw the first portion of the Zulu army.
Instantly riding back, he gave the alarm, and the camp was at once on
the alert, making every effort for defence. Instead of following the
plan of Uys, and entering the enemy's country, and thus giving him the
advantage of position, enabling him to attack where it best suited him,
the new commander had from the first decided on forcing the enemy to
attack him, and there now seemed every probability of this desire being
accomplished. During the whole night a careful watch was kept, and each
map slept with his weapons beside him; but it was not until the first
gleams of daylight that the enemy showed themselves.

It was an important day in the history of this now well-known
settlement,