The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-23
EKOWE.
Col. Pearson ana His FOrces--The Zulns
surronndinE the Fort.


Tho Dafu 1elegraph published recently
description of Col. Pearson 9 position. ne
letter is dated "Fort Ekowe, Sunday, Febru-
airy 10" and Is probably written by one oil the
garrison: 1,.,..., x,,,, ,.,,t,,-
nallv d Norwegian mission station. ahail-
dnned by It's occupants and more OF less
wrecked by the natives when the present
troubles began The mission had mace lew
eanverts. and had been only tolerated OF late
nv Cet ywayo. II consisted Of three houses Of
aim dried bri k. straw matched, and church
ri Tho same material rooted with galvanized
iron, ali of which are still standing. and en-
closed I'm the fort-the houses forming stores
look out place. Besides these. at some dis
lance outside Of the present fort, were three
other houses now pulled down TO prevent
Giving cover. The water is obtained from o
stream kept up by q spring, and flowing
been cut down. The fort is an irregu-
lar hexagon ana 10 surrounded by
ditch 10 feet deep and 10 feet wide, and has
ali sorts OF military obstacles. outside. The
ground here rises about 1000 feet above the
on almost all faces. To the southeast, 400
wards off, Ia O. hill about 500 feet higher than
fhis. from which, as Indeed from all the high
points round here, magnificent views can bee
obtained. The sea gitters on one side. about
twenty miles off. and all round we overlook
green rolling ground dotted here and there
With Kal1lr kraals, the slopes covered with a
dark bush, which stretches In green waves
till they surge into chain OF hills some BUD
feet high, only to drop again into common
valley. Nevertheless, OF sunrise or sunset,
with q clear sky, the charm OF the view does
tend to alleviate ones repngnanCe to being
planted out here. Outside the houses
were two magnificent groves of orange
two or three fine clumps OF bamboo and
several timber trees; oil these have been
leyeIed to the ground by the ruthless forti-
flers, with the exception of O few fine apec-
mems of the eucalyptus globulosa, or blue
pum. which are still within the fort. The
church is loopholed for defense, and we have
$50 yards of pafapet for the use OF muskstry
and batteries for Que Gatiing gun. two twelve
Founders, two seven-poundsrs ana two rocket
tubes, On those faces OF the fort which are
are rendered impracticable To q sudden rush
by all sorts OF cunning obstacles. The fort
liz now finished, and supposed to be proof
against Zulus, which | should think 1t was,
for | am sure 1t would puzzle well drilled
European troops. with brigade Of artillery.
10 get In.
THE DEFENDERS.
$50 much for our stronghold Now for It's
defenders. The garrison consists OF six COM
panies OF the Bluffs, three companies OF the
Ninety ninth, one company OF the Royal En-
ginpers, one subdivision OF Royal Artillery.
all about 1850 men. Col. Pearson is In com
mand The day begins with q reveille at 80,
fatigue duties at 6, breakfast at 8. fattgues
o 80 till 49, luncheon fatigues, 30 till 30
dinner retreat at 45, when all must belnside
the fort. Lights are put out at 5. We always
call these meals luncheon and dlnner-as a
matter OF fact we drink tea at the later meal
and lime juice at the earlier. We go to bed
at about 7, as q matter OF rule end gem
orally find little difficulty In getting to
sleep. SO much for our interior economy.
| Three men Of the Bluffs have died since
we came here: one from wound at
| Inyezabe, and two from dysentery. The hos
pital contains about twelve or fifteen patients
at present All Of the Ninety -nlnth's men
| have been q little seedy one way or another,
| but nothing serious Searching SUNS and
heavy rains, with unvarying diet are caicu-
lated to produce slight arrangements. The
| food we receive is Of this wise: two pounds Of
fresh meat, beef, OF course per day, (natu-
rally the meat is tough, as 1t has to be cooked
almost Immediately IL ID killed., two hard
biscuits coffee, tea, sugar and d spoonful Of
lime Juice Occasionally we have coarse Boer
meal, instead of biscuits, and ration oil
beans, compressed vegetables or preserved
potatoes Is occasionally issued. We live In O
shelter which we have rugged up next q
wagon. We are supposed TO be surrounded
by powerful force Of Zulus, but here we are
doggedly planted In an enemy's territory, as
far as we know the only British troops In tbs
country, with no communications whatever
except such as can be obtained by native
runners to the Tuguela