y the men, who formed in
a circle, and stood three deep. The dance consisted merely of stamping
on the ground, first with one foot then with the other, keeping time to
a song. The effect of about five hundred heavy feet striking the ground
at the same instant was grand, and the shouts of the men became louder
and louder, as their excitement increased. In the centre of the ring
one or two men would occasionally dash about, quivering their assagies,
and pretending to throw them; then, almost falling on the ground, they
would suddenly spring in the air, dart from side to side, and rush
forward making movements of stabbing an enemy. The proceedings of these
men were carefully watched, for they were known as the quickest movers
and fastest runners in the tribe, and their skill in dodging an assagy
was such that no man ever had a chance of hitting them in the games they
played with blunted assagies. The dance lasted about two hours, and we
then lay down to sleep, some in the huts and others on the ground.

At daybreak we all got up, and having employed a short time in
sharpening our assagies, we assembled in groups to receive our orders.

The buffaloes were known to be concealed in a dense ravine about two
miles from the kraal. There were two parts of this ravine whence the
animals could escape, and it was decided that they should be driven
towards that end nearest the kraal. About one hundred men were told off
to go round the top of this ravine and to enter at the far end, so as to
drive the buffaloes before them. About twenty boys were placed round
the top of the ravine, whose duty it was to watch the buffaloes and to
give notice where they were in the bush. I was told to go with these
boys, but I begged Inyati to let me go with him and to join the party
who were to attack the animals when they were driven out into the open
country. With a smile Inyati consented, and asked me if my assagies
were sharp. I showed them to him, and having felt them he nodded his
approval, and then assembling his men we marched off to our station.

When we had reached the top of the ravine, we were placed in a
semicircle and then concealed ourselves. A party of about a hundred men
then took up their position near the top of the ravine, and their duty
was to run between the buffaloes and the ravine immediately they broke
cover, so as to cut off their retreat, and thus to prevent them from
breaking back, and dashing through the beater