The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-10-17

better stuff for fighting purposes thar
Wambe's Matukus.
These odds, though large, were not,
under the circumstances, overwhelm-
| ing.
The real obstacle to our chance OF
success was the difficulty of delivering
crushing assault against Wambe's
strong place.
This was, it appeared, fortified all
round with schanses, or stone walls,
and contained numerous caves and
koppies in the hillside and at the foot
of the mountain which no force had
ever been able to capture.
1t was said that in the time Of the
Zulu monarch Dingaan, great Impi
of that king having penetrated to this
district, had delivered an assault upon
the kraal, then owned by forefather
Of Wambe, and been beaten back with
the loss of more than 1000 men.
Having thought the question over.
closely interrogated Maiwa &c to the
Notifications and the Typographical Pc
culiarities of the spot and not without
results.
I discovered that the kraal was in
deed impregnable to front attack, but
that it was very slightly defended at
the rear, which ran up the slope of the
mountain-indeed, only b. two lines of
stone walls.
The reason of this was that the
mountain is quite impossible, except
by one secret path, supposed to be
known only to the chief and his toun-
cilors, and this being so, it mad not
been considered necessary to fortify it.
well" l said, when she had done.
"and now rs to this secret path OF
thine. knowest thou aught Of it?'
GAY" she answered, Il am no fool,
Macumazahn.
knowledge learned is power earned.
81 won the secret of that path"
"And canst thou guide an Impi there
on, so that it shall fall upon the town
from behind?"
"Yes, that can I do, if only Wambe's
people know not that the Impi. comes,
for if they know, then can they block
the way"
$50, then. here is my plan.
"Listen, Nala, and say if it be good;
or, if you have better, show it forth.
LET messengers 60 out and summon
all thy Irpi, that it be gathered here
on the third day from now.
"This being done, let the Impi, led by
Maiwa, march on the morrow of the
fourth day, and crossing the noun
tains, let it travel alcng on the other
side of the mountains till it come to
the place on the farther side of which
is the Naal of Wambe; that shall be
some three days journey in all about
100 miles,.
Then, on the night of the third days
journey let Maiwa lead the lmpi in
silence up the secret path, so that it
comes to the crest of the mountain
that is above the Strong Place, and
here let it hide among the rocks.
Meanwhile, on the sixth day from
now, let one of the Inundas of Nala
bring with him two hundred men that
have guns, and take me and my men as
prisoners, and take also q girl from
among the Butiana people who by
form and face is like unto Maiwa, and
bind her hands, and pass by the road
on which we came, and, through the
cutting in the cliff, on to the kraal Of
Wambe.
"But the men shall take no shields or
plumes with them, only their guns and
one short spear, and when they meet
the people of Wambe they shall say
that they come to give up the woman
and the white man and his party to
Wambe, and to make atOnement to
Wambe. -... .,.
$50 shall they pass in peace, and
travelling thus, on the evening of the
seventh day we shall. come to the gate
of the place of Wambe, and nigh the
gates there is, SO. says. Maiwa, koppie
very strong and full Of rocks and caves,
but having no soldiers thereon except
in time of war, or, at the worst, but
few such as can easily be overpowered.
"This being done, at the dawn Of day
must the Impi on the mountain behind
the town light fire, and put wet
grass thereon, so that the smoke goes
up.
Then at the sight of the smoke will
we in the koppie begin to shoot into
the town of Wambe, whereon all the
soldiers will run to kill US.
But We will hold our own, and while
we fight the Impi shall charge down
the mountain side and climb the
schanses, and put those who defend
them to the assegai, and then, falling
upon the town, shall surprise it, and
drive the soldiers Of Wambe as the
wind blows the dead husks of corn.
This is my plan. have spoken"
"Ouw said Nala; lit is good; it is
very good q
CTo be contin Ied.)
An Eye Test.