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Updated: June 23, 2025
Indeed, the veld here was beautiful, high, rolling plains like those of the East African plateau, covered with a deep and fertile chocolate-coloured soil, as we could see where the rains had washed out dongas. The climate, too, seemed to be cool and very healthful.
Towards evening all transports had disappeared, and cruisers and destroyers resumed a leisurely patrol. That was Saturday. In the early light of next morning, while the mist-wraiths still clung to the hills and filled the dongas, Mac was disturbed in his breakfast preparations by the sound of a heavier cannonade than usual to the south.
The points at which water could be obtained were discussed. Some were at considerable distances apart; but the Zulus were of opinion that the late heavy rains had extended to the hills of Zululand, and that there would be abundance of water in little dongas and water-courses that would be dry after a spell of fine weather.
Now arose another difficulty: the bottom of the Kaap Valley, towards the centre, was a labyrinth of dongas, and the trail, hitherto so definite, split up into innumerable strands. These crossed and re-crossed each other bewilderingly, like the fibers of an unraveled rope. The dongas were both wide and deep; in many instances they were quite impassable.
It was as though a ground swell had set in toward distant, invisible shores. Here the short grass was still green from the rains. Water lay in pools at the bottom of dongas. By this good fortune travel was independent of the permanent water, and hence safe and easy. Game was everywhere. Not for a single hour in all that six weeks were they out of sight of it.
Smoke and flames from the dongas told that some of our shells had fallen among the wagons and their combustible stores. The Boer line had proved itself to be unshakable on each face, but at its ends the result of the action was to push them up, and to shorten the stretch of the river which was held by them. On the north bank Smith-Dorrien's brigade gained a considerable amount of ground.
By about six we could see the Boers creeping forward over Bell Spruit and making their way up the dongas and ridges in our front. At about eight there was a pause, and it seemed as if the attack was abandoned, but it began again at nine with greater violence. The shell fire was terrific.
Skiet's Drift is a difficult way, leading through a bushy country scarred with dongas and commanded by successive ridges, of which the Boers, with their great mobility and rapidity of concentration, know how to make the most. They still hold Monger's Hill, and their big gun has opened again from the notched ridge by Doom Kloof.
We were, in local parlance, "bust." Prospectors start for Swaziland Rumors as to their fate MacLean and I decide to follow them Precautions against lions The Crocodile River The Boer and the pessimist Game and honey Crocodiles Difficulties in crossing the river MacLean nearly drowned in the rapids I go on alone First sight of De Kaap A labyrinth of dongas I reach Swaziland Baboons On the trail of the prospectors The mystery solved 'Ntshindeen's Kraal Swazi hospitality How I became celebrated A popular show Repairing guns Character of the Swazis Contempt for money and love of salt Prospecting My welcome outstayed A dangerous crisis Return to the Crocodile River The rhinoceros Our bearers decamp We abandon our goods Attacked by fever Terror of partridges Arrival at Mac Mac.
The scenery itself is fair and restful to the eye; there are no huge mountains, no precipitous dongas, yet an ever-changing kaleidoscope which prevents any monotony.
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