A day passed without any signs of the Zulus, but at daybreak on the
second day a Caffre runner came shouting that the Zulus were crossing
the Umganie river. We made a rush for the boats, and were soon all on
board the schooner, where we waited, each with a gun, to see what the
Zulus would do. The army moved rapidly and swept down on the
settlement, and burnt the huts, but they did not find a living human
being. Seeing the ship, they came down to the beech, and shouted to us
to come on shore. I knew they had no guns; so, ascending the rigging, I
called to the leading chief, and said: "Tell the Zulu dog that he is not
cunning enough. He sent me to the Pongola, so that he might murder the
white men without my knowing what he was going to do; but I came before
you to tell them. You may now go back again."
A yell arose from the Zulus when they heard this and recognised me, and
a hundred men dashed in the water and swam towards the ship. We allowed
these to come close and then fired at them, killing or wounding several;
the remainder then swam back to the shore and concealed themselves in
the wood. I knew the Zulus too well to believe they would give up at
once trying to kill the white men, and so I told my companions. We
therefore kept watch all day and all night, and it was lucky we did so;
for, just before daybreak on the following day, the Zulus again entered
the water and swam silently to the ship. The sailors, however, had now
made a very useful weapon: they had procured some large, heavy stones,
which they had sown up in canvas and fastened to long ropes. These they
threw on the Zulus, and stunned or sunk them. They could haul the
stones up again and throw them again. Except by the cable there was no
means by which the Zulus could climb into the ship, so we could kill
them just as we liked.
Finding they could do nothing against people in a ship, the Zulus
withdrew; and we thought that, as we did not see anything of them for
three days, they must have left Natal.
I felt quite certain that the chiefs would not give up trying to kill
the white men, for if they returned to the Great Zulu Chief without
being successful, some of them would be assagied to a certainty. At the
end of the three days the white men were desirous of going on shore, to
see what remained of their goods. I tried to persuade them not to
venture, but they replied that three days had now passed and not a Zulu
had been seen; so it was not likely that any were near Natal. But this
was the very reason why I thought it likely that they were waiting for a
chance. I told the white men so; but they only laughed at me and said,
"These niggers are off home now." Thinking that I might be of use in
keeping a better look-out than the white men, I went on shore with those
who landed. Six of them got in a boat, and pulled up the bay, and
landed near where their huts had stood. The remaining men stayed on
board the schooner. There was not a Zulu to be seen anywhere, and we
walked to the remains of the huts, which we found entirely destroyed.
At a short distance from these huts was some thick bush through which
was a narrow path. This path led to some open ground where the cattle
belonging to the settlers used to graze. The white men were anxious to
see whether the Zulus had destroyed or carried off their cattle, and so
entered this path through the wood. Knowing the usual practises of the
Zulus, I thought this a very dangerous proceeding; but my caution only
made the white men say, "Don't be afraid, we ain't."
Just before we entered the bush, I saw on the sand several footprints of
men, quite fresh. These footprints had been made after the last dew had
fallen, so I knew it was not very long since the men who had made them
must have passed over the ground. I called to the white men in front of
me to stop, as I had seen fresh footprints of Zulus; but they replied
that I couldn't tell when these had been made, and as I was afraid I
fancied these dangers.
Scarcely had they spoken when there was a rustling noise in the bushes,
and in an instant about fifty Zulus sprang on to the path, surrounded
the white men, and assagied them instantly. Seeing this, I dived into
the bush, and during the noise crept through the bush and made my escape
towards the shore. I hoped to reach the boat that had brought us from
the ship; but, on coming within sight of it, I saw it was in possession
of the Zulus. So my retreat by that means was cut off. The distance
from where I was to the nearest part of the shore to the ship was nearly
two miles, and there was dense bush nearly the whole way. To attempt to
work my way through this bush would have been a most dangerous
proceeding, for it is impossible to move in the bush without making a
noise; and the Zulus were certain to have placed men on watch in this
bush, so that an assagy stab would be the first thing that would
acquaint me of the presence of a Zulu. Soon after I had joined the
white men, they had given me clothes to wear, so the Zulus would
distinguish me now at a great distance. To lie concealed in the bush
was, I knew, of but little use; for they would follow my trail and
surround me just as they were accustomed to surround a lion. As soon as
I had seen that the boat was in possession of the Zulus, I had concealed
myself in the bush to consider what to do; and I decided to work my way
up the coast about a mile, and then take to the beach and try to reach
the ship that way. Just as I had made up my mind to do this, I saw a
large party of Zulus marching from where they had killed the white men
towards the boat; and I noticed that they had put on the clothes of the
men they had killed, and at a distance might have been mistaken for
white men.
I lay still till all these men had passed, and watched their
proceedings. They sat down near the boat, and seemed to be having a
talk about something of importance. I tried to think what I should
propose had I been at the meeting, and the Zulus my friends; and,
knowing the Zulu tactics, I believed I could tell what they said almost
as well as if I heard them. My idea was that they would wait till it
was dark, and then get into the boat and pull to the ship; and, by the
aid of the clothes they wore, pretend to be white men, and get on board
the ship. If the men on board were not on their guard, this plan would
very likely succeed; and, knowing how careless and unsuspicious the
white men were, I believed the chances were in favour of the Zulus
succeeding in their attempt.
From none of the Zulus having followed me, I believed it possible that
they had not seen me before I rushed into the bush, when my companions
were attacked; but I knew the habits of the Zulus too well to be certain
about this. They had often told me that the best means to come within
assagy-range of a buck was to walk slowly round him, gradually narrowing
the circle, but never looking at him, and pretending that something in
the distance attracted your attention; then, when near enough, rush
forward towards the buck and throw the assagy.
If the Zulus had seen me, they must know I was concealed somewhere; and
the best method of capturing or assagying me was to set several men to
watch the country, and to remain perfectly concealed and quiet. This
plan they had already adopted for three days, and had succeeded in
trapping half of the white men. My best chance, therefore, was to
remain quiet until it was dark and then to attempt to reach the ship
before the Zulus could do so.
It required great patience to lie for several hours in the bush, not
daring to move; for, if I even frightened away a bird that had settled
near me, the suspicions of the Zulus would be raised, and the bush in
which I was concealed probably surrounded. The day passed very slowly;
and, after a short time, not a Zulu was to be seen. I knew that this
meant that they were all on watch in the bush; and I thought how easily
ignorant white men, who knew nothing about spooring, or who never
watched other indications, would be surprised and killed by these
so-called savages. I knew that a large body of Zulus were in the bush
near where the boat lay, because two or three vultures kept circling
over the place. I also saw other vultures circling over the bush where
the white men had been killed, and I was very much afraid that they
might circle over me. If they did, I was lost. The sun seemed to move
very slowly this day, but at last it touched the hills near the Umlass
river, and soon after it became dark. I at once left the bush, and
moved cautiously towards a marsh near the coast. It was by my ears I
must now save myself, and perhaps by my legs. I moved through the long
reeds of the marsh, and entered the bush beyond. In the darkness it was
impossible to move silently in the bush; but I stopped occasionally to
listen; and, hearing nothing, again advanced. I passed through the bush
and came on the open beach, about a mile to the east of the entrance to
the bay. I stopped again to listen, but could not hear any noise which
indicated the presence of the Zulus; and, it was so dark, that I could
see but a short way ahead or round me. Still advancing slowly and
silently, I moved along the beach towards the point where the schooner
was at anchor, when I saw before me a group of Zulus standing together
talking in a very low tone. They saw me as soon as I saw them: and,
calling to me, asked who I was. I replied in Zulu, "Don't make a noise;
I have news for you presently." I then turned to the right, where there
were several sand-hills between the beach and the bush--amidst which I
should be lost to sight. The dense bush beyond also prevented the
outline of my figure being seen against the sky; and I thus hoped to
pass the Zulus and get a start of them. They, however, suspected
something, and turned after me. Seeing that the only chance of escape
was a run, I moved quickly among the sand-hills; and then jumping on to
the hard beach, which was better suited for running, I dashed off at
speed. I had no fear of any single Zulu catching me in a straight race,
for I had beaten their best runner. What I dreaded was that another
party might be on the beach in front of me, when I should be stopped by
them. The noise I made in running would be sure to put a party on the
alert; besides which the Zulus in rear who were chasing me now began
shouting; a proceeding I knew they would not adopt unless they hoped to
make known to some other parties that they were in pursuit of an enemy.
The distance from where I began running to where the ship was, about
three-quarters of a mile, I could run at speed, and now that I was
running for my life there was no lack of energy. I found I was leaving
the Zulus behind, and was now well beyond the reach of an assagy. I
still kept on, however, and reached the beach some two hundred yards
before the leading Zulu. I jumped into the water, and swam rapidly
towards the schooner; but a new danger here threatened me. The night
was very dark, and no one on shore could have seen me had it not been
for the phosphorescence of the water. As I swam I left a trail of light
behind me--like a rocket--and the Zulus, seeing this, threw their
assagies at me; but, luckily, none struck me, or I probably should never
have been able to relate my early history. I was soon beyond range of
the spears, and then called to the men in the ship to lower a rope for
me to climb on board. I was heard, and a rope with a bowling-knot at
the end was lowered. In this knot I placed my feet, and was soon on
board, when I told the white settlers and sailors what had taken place
on shore. I also told them that I suspected the Zulus would try to get
on board in the disguise of the men they had assagied, and that we must
be prepared for them. Having given this information, I obtained some
dry clothes and some food; and being now listened to with more
attention, I made all arrangements for receiving the Zulus when they
made their attempt to come on board as I felt sure they would. A
careful watch was kept by two men, whilst the others were ready to jump
up at the slightest noise. We had five double-barrelled guns on board,
and several boat-hooks, which would serve as excellent weapons to keep
off boarders. I believed the Zulus would try to surprise us, and to get
on board under pretence of being white men, for they could not come in
great numbers in the boat, so I had no fear of being overpowered.
The sailors proposed that, as soon as the wind was suitable, we should
hoist sail and escape from the bay--certainly the most prudent thing to
do; but there was a surf on the bar at present, due to the south-east
wind that had been blowing for some days. And this surf rendered it
dangerous to attempt to get out of the bay.
The greater part of the night passed, and not a sign of the Zulus was
visible; but a short time before day break, and whilst it was still
dark, one of the look-out men came below and called us all to come on
deck, as there was a noise as of oars being used in a boat. We had made
our plans, so as not to indicate we were on guard when the boat came
alongside. So we all crouched under the bulwarks and thus concealed
ourselves. The stream of light in the water made by the boat was soon
visible, and very quickly it came along; the Zulus knew nothing about
rowing, but they managed the oars very well, and brought the boat close
to the schooner. They were dressed in white men's clothes, but had
their assagies and shields in the boat ready for use. I could not help
admiring the daring of these men, and their obedience to the orders of
their chief. They had killed several white men, and might have returned
with their clothes as proofs of their success; but their orders were to
kill _all_ the white men, and they were now endeavouring to carry out
these orders. But for our own safety we must kill them, and if possible
obtain possession of the boat. When the Zulus were alongside, one man
climbed on the shoulders of another, and thus reached to the bulwark,
and in an instant was on board. As he came on the deck he was struck
down, and the alarm at once spread. Instead of attempting to escape in
the boat, the other Zulus tried to get on board by the same means; and
each man was knocked down before he could use his assagies. As yet not
a shot had been fired, but now, as one man only remained in the boat, he
pushed off and would have escaped with the boat if we had allowed it, so
one of the settlers fired and shot him. The boat was now drifting away,
so I jumped over board, and swam towards it, and climbed in. On
entering the boat I found that both the oars had fallen overboard, and I
could not therefore row the boat; and as the tide was running out very
rapidly I was being carried towards the bar. Now, inside the bar sharks
were rarely if ever seen; but on the bar they were numerous, and I knew
the boat would be upset when it reached the breakers on the bar, and I
should have no chance, as the shark would soon pull me down. I
therefore thought I must give up the idea of saving the boat; and must
jump into the water and try to reach the schooner; but I saw in the
water several streaks of light, which showed me that other Zulus had
entered the water with the intention of assisting their friends, and
several of these were between me and the ship. To have attempted to
reach the ship, therefore, would have been a dangerous proceeding, as I
should have been caught by several of the Zulus, and either drowned by
them, or taken prisoner, and assagied. I struck out therefore for the
opposite shore, where the Bluff of Natal, a high piece of land, stands,
and soon reached the shore, where I concealed myself in the bush; and,
being much fatigued with the exertions of the day, lay down and soon
fell asleep.
I hoped when daylight came to swim back to the schooner, or signal to
them to send me a boat; so I felt no anxiety about the morrow.
I awoke on the following morning from the heat of the sun, which was
shining on me, and for a few seconds I was in doubt where I was and what
had happened. I was stiff and uncomfortable from having laid down in my
wet clothes, which were scarcely yet dry, in consequence of the heavy
dew that had fallen; but I got up and worked my way carefully out of the
bush to where I thought I should see the schooner. On reaching the
shore I looked and looked again; no schooner was visible where she had
been, I then noticed that the wind was blowing from the west--the
favourable wind for a vessel to leave the harbour. I ran round the
Bluff to the side next the sea, and there saw the schooner with all
sails set, about five miles off. I then knew I was deserted by the
white men, who probably thought I had been drowned, so that I was now
the only white man remaining on this coast.
During the various adventures through which I had passed since the
shipwreck years ago, I had never despaired or felt really unhappy: there
was always some excitement going on, and my mind was occupied in
planning various things either for sporting or other purposes. Now,
however, a feeling came over me that I had never experienced before.
Had I been better acquainted with the human body and its requirements, I
should have at once attributed this effect to its proper cause. During
the whole of the previous day I had eaten nothing, and had gone through
much hard work and excitement. The depression that I suffered was more
due to absence of food than to the causes by which I was surrounded, for
when I had eaten I saw everything in a more hopeful light. Still I was
in a bad way; for I possessed no weapon except a sailor's knife, I had
no food and did not know where to procure any, and I was probably
surrounded by enemies.
I wandered down the rocks on the shore and gazed at the distant ship. I
knew it was useless to signal, she was so far distant; yet I took off my
jacket and waved it, till my arm was too tired even to lift above my
shoulder. Then I sat down to think.
As I looked down I saw fixed on the rocks at my feet a shell which I at
once recognised as an oyster, such as we used to procure at Bombay.
With my knife I opened this, and ate this African shell-fish. On
searching on the rocks I found hundreds of oysters, and was enabled to
make a hearty meal. Trickling down the side of the bluff was also a
little stream of fresh water. By gathering some large leaves of a plant
like the banana, I allowed the water to accumulate in these, and my
thirst was quenched. Growing on the shore also were some trees, bearing
a fruit I well knew, and called by my old friends of the Umzimvubu the
_Martingula_. It was very good to eat, and in size was similar to a
plum, with a peculiar flavour. I also saw several bees, so I hoped to
procure some honey, and there was consequently no fear of starving.
I thought it prudent not to show myself on the shore of the bay, for
fear some Zulus might yet remain; though I anticipated that, as soon as
they had seen that the schooner had sailed they would return to their
own country with their proofs of victory.
I considered for some time whether I should try to work my way down the
coast, so as to reach the Umzimvubu and my old friends; but a strange
longing had come over me to once more be among white people, and I
thought that the Bay of Natal would be a much more likely place from
which to find a ship than down by the Umzimvubu district. So I decided
to keep myself concealed on the bluff, at least for some time; for I
need not want for food, as there were oysters in abundance on the rocks,
and when the tide went down there were several pools of water left on
the rocks, in which were fish of various sizes: these I caught with a
forked stick, and so managed to live on fish diet. I was not long,
however, before I adopted a Caffre expedient for obtaining meat. In the
bush were numbers of red bush-buck, and also duikers: to trap these I
bent down the stem of a young tree, so as to form a spring, and by means
of withes and the bark of a shrub, which was as strong as rope, I made a
noose in the path frequented by these buck. Scarcely an evening passed
but I caught a buck, and so had plenty of meat. I sadly wanted some
salt, however; but I soon thought of a plan for securing this. There
were several small hollows in the rocks above high-water mark, these I
filled with sea-water, and, as they were exposed to the sun, the water
soon evaporated, and a deposit of salt remained. With this salt I
rubbed the strips of buck-meat I had cut with my knife; and, hanging
these in the sun, made a provision for the future. I was obliged to
hang them at the end of thin branches at a distance from the ground, for
I found that leopards frequented this place, and although they might not
attack me, yet they would at once carry off and devour my meat.
I wanted some weapon very badly: I had cut a stout stick to make a
knob-kerrie, but such a weapon would be harmless against a leopard. I
should have felt more comfortable if I had possessed two or three
assagies, for there is a feeling of power when one grasps a weapon which
we know how to use. I believed it possible that I might find some
assagies, if I crossed the bay and searched along the shore where so
many of the Zulus had been killed or wounded. I waited till it was
nearly dark one evening, and then swam across the channel that separated
the bluff from the wooded shore opposite. I landed on this shore, and,
keeping close to the bush, examined all the likely places for an assagy
to be found, and at length found three very good ones. I could see no
fresh traces of men's footprints, and concluded that all the Zulus had
left Natal.
I therefore ventured further inland, and visited the locality where the
white men had been ambushed by the Zulus. I found the remains of their
bodies: hyaenas and vultures having feasted on them, but little remained
except their bones. Almost hidden by the long grass, I saw the stock of
a gun; and found this to be a double-barrelled gun, with a flask of
powder and a bag of bullets close beside it. Such a treasure I had not
expected, and I now felt that I was secure against any average enemy.
In order to get across the channel with my powder dry, I collected a
quantity of wood and fastened this together by withes and bark, so as to
make a raft on which to keep my powder and gun above the water. This
raft I pushed before me whilst I swam, and thus succeeded in getting
over the water with my valuable cargo in safety.
I now felt well prepared to pass a long time in my solitary locality; so
I set to work to cut down some small trees, and make a sort of Caffre
hut. This I deemed necessary for my safety by night, or when I slept;
for if a leopard or a rock-snake found me asleep, the first might carry
me off before I could use my gun, and the snake might encircle me in his
folds, and crush me before I could use even a knife. It occupied me two
days to complete my hut, which was then waterproof and quite safe from
the attacks of any animals--at least so I imagined.
In the present day, when a box of lucifer matches enables every person
to instantly procure a fire, it is not easy to realise the difficulty
that is experienced by those unprovided by any such artificial aids. To
procure a fire I was obliged to adopt the usual Caffre method of using
two dry sticks. One of soft wood was placed on the ground, the other of
hard wood was held in the hands and worked round, whilst it was pressed
into a hole in the soft wood. After several minutes of this work a few
sparks would be produced, which were placed in a wisp of dry grass, and
swung round at arms-length. By this means a small flame was produced
and a fire kindled. It was then my particular care to preserve this
fire, and never let it die out. To do so was no easy matter, for I was
obliged to have a large stock of dry wood collected, and to so heap this
up, and protect it from the wind, that it would smoulder for hours. If
there came rain, it was even more difficult to keep the fire permanently
burning; and, after rain, to reproduce fire was extremely laborious.
This, then, was one great source of anxiety to me, for I dare not let
any smoke rise in the air, for this would let any enemy know that man
was on the bluff; for, clever and cunning as all animals in a wild state
become, even the monkey or baboon does not know how to create a fire, or
how to keep this fire blazing when they do find one which man has
lighted, I have now to relate one of the greatest escapes I ever
experienced, though many which I have already described may appear to
have been marvellous.
A week had passed since I had procured the gun and some assagies from
the place where the Zulus had ambushed the white men, and I had seen no
signs of a human being; but I knew too well the enemy by whom I had been
captured, not to be aware, that if he intended to recapture me, he would
lie concealed for many days, watching for a chance of surprising me. My
intention was to support life until a ship came to Natal, for I
concluded that when the schooner which had escaped, reached Table Bay,
and informed the authorities there that the Zulus had overrun Natal,
some steps would be taken to obtain at least information as to what had
since occurred. Thus I lived in daily hopes of seeing a sail, and once
more joining with white men.
One night I had retired to my hut, and had slept till the dawn began to
show, when I woke with a strange feeling of oppression and weight on my
chest. My gun was close beside me, and my knife within reach of my
hand. For a moment I was not aware what was the cause of the singular
feeling I experienced, and I opened my eyes without otherwise moving.
In the dim light I saw that which, for an instant, caused my heart to
cease beating. Over my chest was the coil of the body of a rock-snake,
this coil being bigger round than my thigh. I could see that the tail
of the snake was outside my small hut, and in consequence of my lying on
the ground the huge reptile had not been able to coil completely round
me. I knew I was in imminent danger, and I also at once decided on the
safest and most probable means of escape. Moving my arm slowly, I
grasped my knife, and then raising my head, saw the snake's eyes within
two feet of mine. His head was on the ground, and so close that I could
lift my hand above it. I carried out this movement very slowly, the
snake remaining motionless. Then with a sudden stab I drove my long
knife through the snake, just where his head joined his neck, and pinned
him to the ground. With a struggle I slipped from under his body, and
now the fight began. So tenacious of life are these reptiles that,
although I had separated his head from his body as regards the
vertebrae, yet he twisted and rolled the great coils of his body so
rapidly and powerfully that several times he had surrounded my legs with
a loop, and it was only by a quick movement on my part that I escaped
the danger of being enclosed in a vice-like embrace. I succeeded,
however, in avoiding its coils, and suddenly scrambled out of the hut,
leaving the snake in possession.
I knew that the reptile was mortally wounded, and that if I let him
remain where he was he would die. I had no wish to enter the hut again,
and finish him; for his weight was so great that he might hold me to the
ground. So I sat outside and listened to him as he occasionally rolled,
or turned over. It was lucky for me that the snake was a rock-snake,
which is not poisonous. I could fight this fellow on fair terms; for it
was strength against strength, and, with such a weapon as a knife even,
I felt equal to the combat. When, however, one meets a puff-adder or a
cobra, the fight is not equal. You may kill either of these, but if
either has bitten you your death is certain. Of all the creatures with
which I have had to fight, a poisonous snake is the very worst. During
my residence among the Umzimvubu tribe I had many escapes from these
poisonous snakes, some of which I may as well now relate.
Round the kraal in which my hut was situated when I lived among the
Umzimvubu was a fence, made somewhat in the manner in which hurdles are
built in England. One morning I wanted to go out to look for the
cattle, and stepped on the fence, intending to leap over it. As my foot
rested on the upper part, I saw a cobra raise its head from among the
branches, and I instantly fell back, escaping by the smallest distance
from the rapid dart made by the reptile. To have been bitten would have
been certain death, for a full-grown active cobra is sure to kill where
he strikes.
Another escape was from a puff-adder, a snake equally as deadly as the
cobra. I was looking after the cattle in the Umzimvubu country, and
finding the sun very warm I went to an acacia tree, so as to sit in the
shade, and sat down on a rock near which was some moss. My right hand
held my assagies, and as I came to the ground my hand and assagies
rested on a large puff-adder. I felt the reptile move, and seeing my
hand was on its neck, I pressed it down, whilst with my other hand I
drew an assagy and drove it through the head of the serpent, and thus
escaped the bite which would have proved fatal. I scarcely ever passed
a day in the bush without seeing a snake, and I must have killed over a
hundred during my residence among the Umzimvubu.
With considerable difficulty I dragged this snake out of my hut and
pushed it down the sloping side of the bluff, and into the water, where
the tide carried it out, and it probably became a feast for shark, which
were in great numbers outside the harbour.
A few days passed after my adventure with the python, and nothing
extraordinary happened. I had succeeded in capturing two red bush-buck,
which supplied me with animal food; but the oysters on the rocks and the
fish I secured when the tide was low, in the various pools, afforded me
plenty to eat. I should certainly have liked some Indian corn, but I
did not dare venture near any of the kraals which were in the
neighbourhood, for fear I might not be well-treated by the Caffres, or
might be seen by some of the Zulus who, I still believed, were lurking
in the neighbourhood.
People who have passed their lives amidst scenes of civilisation are not
aware of the patience which so-called savages can practise without doing
anything unusual. A Caffre will sit for a whole day and watch for a
buck to come to some pool to drink; or he will set a trap every evening
for a month, on the chance of capturing some animal; and never gives up
after repeated failures, as a white man would do. Knowing these
peculiarities, I believed it possible that the Zulus would wait a month
even, rather than give up the chance of capturing me.
About a week after my escape from the snake, I woke one morning in
consequence of hearing a sea-eagle screaming. Two or three of these
eagles used to fish in the bay, and were splendid birds. I always
noticed that whenever I appeared on the shore, one of these birds gave a
shrill warning sort of scream; so, immediately I heard the bird, I crept
out of my hut to look round, in order to see if anything was visible on
the shores of the bay. From close beside my hut was a very good
look-out station, from whence I had a very good view of the shore, from
the Point to the Berea bush and the Umslatazane river. I scanned this
shore carefully, and after a time saw a man in a tree, evidently
examining the bluff where I was. I looked round to see if any smoke was
coming from the embers of my fire, for such a circumstance would at once
have exposed my whereabouts. Luckily none was visible; so, keeping
watch, I turned my attention to this one man. After a time he descended
the tree, and then from out of the bush came more than fifty Caffres.
At first I could not discover whether they were Zulus or Natal Caffres.
Each of the two tribes were armed alike with assagies and shields, but
the _esikoko_ (the ring round the head) was higher with the Zulus than
with the Natal Caffres; and by this peculiarity I discovered at last
that it was a party of Zulus; and, from their movements. I had no doubt
they were in search of me, as they repeatedly stopped and pointed to the
bluff. As this party advanced along the shore, to a point opposite that
on which was my hut, I thought out what was the best course for me to
adopt. The Zulus would have to swim across the channel in order to land
near where my hut was situated; and, if I had only been backed with two
or three men with guns, I could have defied the whole of this party, and
either shot them as they were swimming or when they landed. To adopt
this plan single-handed would, I knew, be useless. I might shoot
perhaps half a dozen of them, but the others would close in on me and
assagy me before I could reload. If they did not do this, they would
lie in ambush; and when I moved near them, would assagy me when my back
was turned. It would not do, therefore, to stop and fight. Having come
to this conclusion, I waited to see the chief of this party order his
men into the water, so that they should swim across the channel. I then
crept back to my hut to get my gun and ammunition and two assagies. I
concealed the other assagies and scattered the embers of my fire, so
that the Zulus should not by that know how lately I had been there. I
then walked backwards for some distance, and, scrambling down the
sea-face of the bluff, reached the shore; and, keeping as much as
possible on the rocks, so as to leave no footmarks, I started at a run
towards the west. My intention was to make for the Umbilo river, and
work up this to the Berea bush. There was an immense amount of cover in
the Berea, and elephant-paths in numbers. If I could conceal my trail I
might remain in this bush for a long time without being discovered.
There were plenty of berries also that were good to eat, and water would
not fail me. Once on my trail, I knew the Zulus too well to doubt their
searching for me for weeks; but near the Umlass river were Caffres who
would soon dispose of these fifty Zulus. But I did not want to be again
taken among any tribe of Caffres. My instincts now induced me to wish
to rejoin white men. A little savage life for a change is agreeable;
too much of it soon tires a man who has once enjoyed civilisation.
I did not fear being overtaken by the Zulus; for they would ascend the
steep bluff to my hut very cautiously, and would then be some time
before they hit off my trail, so I had a good long start of them. What
I did fear, however, was that some outlying party might be concealed
along the ridge of the bluff; and from these it would be difficult to
escape, as I should probably come on them within assagy-throw before I
saw them. In cover, the man who remains still has an immense advantage
over another who is moving about. The man who moves cannot do so
without making a noise; and, in cover, where the extent of one's vision
is limited, the ears often discover what the eyes cannot perceive. All
animals which live in the forest, therefore, possess large ears, which
enable them to hear well all that is going on round them. The leopard,
bush-cat, etc, remain still and watchful when in the forest and watching
for their prey. If they moved about, even their stealthy tread would be
audible, and the animal which they wished to capture would be alarmed,
and would escape. I knew the danger I incurred in moving through the
bush, but there was no help for it.