The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-23

or Drakcnberg Mountains and is an extremely
broken country. Basutoland (Catfraria has an
area of some ten thousand square miles, with
native population estimated at nearly ono hun
dred and thirty thousand. The last con-
flict of the English with the Basutos was
in 1852, when General Cathcart defeated them
in the Borea Mountains, and atreaty of peace was
signed ut Williamstown in 1853. Basutoland
was proclaimed British territory in 1868, and
formally annexed to the Cape Colony in 1871.
[Thc territory of the Basutos is divided into
three sections by the Comet and Orange rivers.
The central western sections are called the
.'Double Mountains the most westerly of the
latter being known the Maluti mountain
range, of which the highest is Machache.
Champagne Castle, lofty peak of the Kath-
LAMBDA range, is OH the northwest border of
Basutoland and is 1O,357 feet high. Little is
known Of the interior of Basutoland, which
is in topography South African Switzcr-
land. The western frontier, formed by
the Cacdon River, adioins the Orange
Free State. 1t is not improbable that the
natives of Griquaand may next join in the re-
volt against the British, in which case, with the
disafcction of the Orange and Transvaal States,
a territory of 300, 900 square miles may become
the great theatre of u long and bloody war;
THE DISPOSITION OF THE BRITISH FORCES
CETYwAYo HARVESTING ATTITUDE OF
THE TRANsvAAL BoERs-DIsQUrETING NEWS.
From the London Daily News.l
CAPE Town, South Africa, Feb. 49, 1879.
The past week. in common with the whole period
which has elapsed since the disaster at Isandula has
been characterized virtually by complete inaction
both sides. On part We have found 1t impossible
to resume the offensive until considerable reinforce
ments have arrived. The interest principally
attaches to Colonel Pearson. who remains
cooped up at Ekowe with force of
nearly 1850 men. of whom 1900 arc
combatants. His position is quite impregnable. The
fort is provisioncd only for short period, which
will make relief matter of present necessity. The
manner in which this object is to be accom-
plishcd whether by forcing through convoy or
bringing away portion of tho garrison has yet to
be determined upon. Probably the latter
will be adopted Lord Chelmsford is at Fort
Tcncdos, an entrenchcd post the Zulu side
of the Tugcla I've miles above its mouth. making
the necessary arrangements for relieving Ekowe
Colonel Glyn's column Is intrenched and three
divisions posted along the main road connecting
Naritzburg with Rorke's Drift The total strength
of the column does not exceed two thousand men,
and nearly all Europeans. In consequence of priya-
ton and exposure the health of this column but
Indifferent.
RoRKE's DRIFT.
At Krantzkop. midway between Fort Tenedos
and Rorko's Drift part of the remaining bat
talions of the native contingent. numbering
$50 Europeans. is in occupation Of dcfen-
sible post. The intervening distance either way is
patroed by volunteers. police ana natives. Colonel
Wood IL greatly harassing the enemy by constant
PATROLS the mounted consisting of the frontier
Light Horse and fifty Beers. Tho destruc ton
of the military kraal of Ragalusini was effected
some days ago. but tho operations of this
column do not generally extend beyond the
line of disputed territory. Colonel Woods force.
27oO men. includes 1000 useful natives raised in
the TransvaaL He is anxious TO obtain reinforce
ments Of mounted mcn The Dordrecht Volunteers
and Bakers Horse accordingly are under orders
for Utrecht. Commandant Schermbrucker. with
the Canrarian Rifles. is at Luneburg, but
powerlcss TO act for want of cavalry.
Colonel Rowland is at Derby with wing OF the
Eighticth regiment two guns and small swaz
detachment. He is in the same predicament, but
endorsements from Raafs Horse and Weather
ley's Bordcrers, volunteer corps raised in the
Transvaal, are expected to join his command
forthwith. He will detach small portion of his
army to preserve Colonel Parsons communication
with the colony. Cctywayo. is reported to have tenn
porary disbandcd his forces to allow opportunities
tor gathering in the crops. 1t is currently believed
that the regiments will take the field again at the
new moon though with what object II is difficult to
surmise. seeing that the Kings policy WILL IL is I'M
derstood preclude the invasion of the colony, while
his strategy does not encourage attacks ON fortified
positions. The suspense resulting from this prolonged