d enough.' He further
said, 'The Fusiliers can fight; we fought them seven and a half hours
before we took 1200 prisoners. They fought hard, and would not give in.'
He evidently admired them.

"The Dutch troopers carry all they have with them on horseback (no
transport); they have one blanket, one mackintosh, and live principally
on meat (grilled); each cooks for himself. They sleep out in the open
veldt--no tents, except for their heads; and one Boer said he had never
had his clothes off for a month. They water their horses, and then swill
their faces in the dregs.

"Our neighbour had deserted his home. They turned his house into a
hospital, hoisted the red-cross flag on his chimney, and have broken and
destroyed everything about his place, killed off his sheep, &c., eaten
bottles of fruit, and broken the bottles.

"The description they themselves gave of wrecked homes was
heart-rending. Some of them sported all sorts of loot, and were dressed
in clothes that were never bought by them.

"I offered (through a trooper) to exchange Field-Cornet Joubert hats. I
would give him a new grey felt helmet for the one he wore--a battered,
brown, hard felt hat, bound with Transvaal colours, two bullet-holes
right through the crown, just above the band. No doubt he had placed it
on a stone as a target. I was told he had been in hospital with a wound
in his leg, got at the same time his hat was hit, but he was so strong
and tough he soon came out again. I don't know if he would have
exchanged, as I only made the offer the morning they retreated. I
thought of sending it to our museum."

On the 20th of November some 700 Boers from Weenen took up a strong
position at Highlands, which is situated some thirteen miles from
Estcourt. They occupied two farms north-east of the Mooi River. On the
following day communication with Estcourt was interrupted and the
telegraph wires south of the place were cut, and later on the lines were
torn up. That done, the Boers began to shell the Mooi River village.
They were posted in two strong positions, but their fire, though
accurate, did little damage. Cattle-looting was briskly continued, the
enemy varying the monotony by firing at intervals. In this district
alone the direct loss to the loyal colonists amounted to over L25,000.
From the north a hot artillery fire was poured into the Mooi River camp,
while from the west further Free State commandoes were marching in.
Great caution was observed in