has turned
the country brown, and it is all the barer for the immense amount of
firewood that has been cut. It was decided about a week ago not to issue
any more horse as rations till the very last of the oxen had been
killed.

_February 28, 1900._

From early morning it was evident that the Boers were much disturbed in
mind. Line after line of waggons with loose strings of mounted men kept
moving from the direction of the Tugela heights above Colenso, steadily
westward, across the top of Long Valley, past the foot of Hussar Hill,
out into the main road along the Great Plain, over the Sandspruit Drift
at the foot of Telegraph Hill, and so to the branching of the roads
which might lead either to the Free State passes or to Pepworth Hill and
the railway to the north. All day the procession went on. However
incredible it seemed, it was evident that the "Great Trek" had begun at
last.

Soon after midday a heliogram came through from Buller, saying he had
severely defeated the enemy yesterday, and believed them to be in full
retreat. Better still, about three the Naval guns on Cove Redoubt and
Caesar's Camp (whither "Lady Anne" was removed three days ago) opened
fire in rapid succession on the great Bulwan gun. The Boers were
evidently removing him. They had struck a "shearlegs" or derrick upon
the parapet. One of our first shots brought the whole machinery down,
and all through the firing of the Naval guns was excellent.

About six I had driven out (being still enfeebled with fever) to King's
Post, to see the tail-end of the Boer waggons disappear. On returning I
found all the world running for all they were worth to the lower end of
the High-street and shouting wildly. The cause was soon evident. Riding
up just past the Anglican Church came a squadron of mounted infantry.
They were not our own. Their horses were much too good, and they looked
strange. Behind them came another and another. They had crossed the
drift that leads to the road along the foot of Caesar's Camp past Intombi
to Pieter's, and Colenso. There was no mistake about it. They were the
advance of the relief column, and more were coming behind. It was Lord
Dundonald's Irregulars--Imperial Light Horse, Natal Carbineers, Natal
Police, and Border Mounted Rifles.

The road was crammed on both sides with cheering and yelling
crowds--soldiers off duty, officers, townspeople, Kaffirs, and coolies,
all one turmoil of excitement and joy. By the post offi