The Scouts took up their position in the kraal of a farm from which they could sweep the northern approach to the already laid mines, and sent back word urgently praying for reinforcements.
Sidenote: A Large Force Slaughtered] Meanwhile Lord Chelmsford had moved the main body of his forces to the capture of a large kraal near Isandlhwana, leaving about a thousand British, Colonial and native troops to guard the camp.
The commando surprised a large kraal from which both Moselkatze and his Induna happened to be absent, slew at least four hundred warriors, fired the village and returned to camp with nearly seven thousand cattle as trophies of victory.
The quartz when pounded proved also to have gold in it, and so did the cylinder layer, and the stones of which the cattle kraal was built contained gold.
From the chief's kraal we had a delightful ride of some twenty miles to a spot near the foot of the high mountains, where we camped for the night.
In the middle of the town close to the huts of Khama himself, who, however, being a Christian, has but one wife, stands the great kraal or kothla.
The Paramount Chief of the whole country lives three miles from Morija, at Matsieng, where he has established, as the wont of the Kafirs is, a new kraal on the top of a breezy hill, forsaking the residence of his father in the valley beneath.
Thinking it well to propitiate the Zulu king, Dingaan, whose power over-shadowed the country, the Boer leaders proceeded to hiskraal to obtain from him a formal grant of land.
The kraal itself, which Lo Bengula fired when he fled away, has gone, and only one old tree marks the spot where the king used to sit administering justice to his subjects.
I visited a second ruin among the mountains of Mashonaland, near the Lezapi River, at a place called Chipadzi's grave, a mile from the kraal of a chief named Chipunza.
Of the native town which grew up round the king's kraal there is now not a trace--all was destroyed in 1893.
Between the kraal and the river, amid a thin grove of spreading giraffe-acacia trees, set upon a little islet of rising ground, lies the outspan where travellers bound to and from Ngami usually halt.
He built a little kraal for his two oxen, and for a time was as happy as an English squire with a heavy rent roll in the good days.
All that day Kwaneet and his young wife toiled hard, cutting thorns and making a temporary kraal for the cattle.
Two months later the Van Zyls were nearing Ndala's kraal on the Okavango, sometimes called the Cubangwe River--that great and little known stream flowing from the north-west towards Lake Ngami.
Coming to the Lake, on my way home from this last hunt, I met messengers from Ndala, captain of a tribe far up the Okavango, who asks me to take my waggon up to his kraal and hunt elephants in his country.
As the chase, for such it was, swept round the kraal and the figures approached the entrance, every face could be plainly discerned; and this was the horrible part of it.
Within six hours of his arrival at the kraalhe had inspanned his oxen and trekked away north into the heart of the Kalahari.
The inmates were all asleep, but the final rattle of horse hoofs and the furious barking of the kraal dogs roused them.
There was a round kraal on the summit of the ridge, at about the centre, in which the enemy had a gun, and where one or two men could be seen moving.
Back from the Kraal wall--back over the piquet--back down the hill and over the drift they went: and in a few minutes the only Boers in camp were the two they had left dead behind them.
On the left, the ridge ends in a conical rocky mound, with a small kraal at its foot.
Major Gilbert and the column left Abraham's Kraal at 8.
Hamilton had surprised a commando at dawn that morning, taken fifteen of them and chased the remainder, but in turn got his own baggage cut off at Kok's Kraal by a party of 150 who slipped behind him.
The Major dashed across to the small kraal at the foot of the conical mound, and, finding Lieut.
The distance accomplished was eight miles when we put up in the Kraal of Rhut; for, as I have said before, there were no villages or permanent habitations in the interior of the Nogal country.
This day we accomplished ten miles, and made a kraal about four miles north of our old line of march.
The huge kraal was very near now, the palisade lined with the faces of eager spectators.
Tell me, then, do the Ba-gcatya give their daughters for nothing, or how shall a man who is so poor think to set up a kraal of his own?
The thoughtless act of Holmes had necessitated the destruction of Nondwana's kraal there and then; and, indeed, the king's brother was more than dissatisfied with the clemency extended to the other two white men.
The truck holds just nineteen beasts, and when nineteen are out of the kraal Mr. Humphrey drops the bar behind the last.
The remaining eighteen are fitted into the truck, and then they turn to tackle the steer, who stands in the middle of the kraal waiting.
Mr. Humphrey walks across and seats himself on the high railing of the kraal near the trucks.
The outer gate of one of the kraals has been unbarred, and the beasts are run through the opening into the kraal without the slightest hitch.
The second man gallops for the other gate leading out of the kraalon to the prairie, but the third, who is in the middle of the green space, hesitates for an instant and is lost.
The capture of the kraal and surroundings by Major Godley, Captain Marsh, and Captain Fitzclarence was ingeniously accomplished.
Begg, from a Sketch by Melton Prior, War Artist] It was reported that a party of the British, going up to a kraal on which a white flag was hoisted, were suddenly attacked by a large number of the enemy.
It was the same with those in the spruit as inside the kraal where I sat.
But in the shock and uproar of the first alarm the English horses that had been kraaled burst through the kraal walls and stampeded, thus making the scene of turmoil more intense.
We may no doubt find later on some old temple or other building that we can add to, but for the time being we must contrive a kraal where we can set dangerous visitors to our cattle quite at defiance.
At last the only sounds within the walls of the kraal were the low whispering of the two boys.
There's no knowing, sir--hanging round ourkraal to see if it could pick up a bit of anything to eat.
This was really the first time that Tom had seen the interior of an inhabited kraal (for it was dark when he was brought in after his capture), and in spite of his unpleasant position he cast curious glances round as he passed through.
Frank thanked the chief most warmly, and inquired how far distant his kraal might be.
Before we reached the gate of the kraal the moon went out utterly, and from every quarter of the firmament the stars rushed forth into the inky sky.
Instantly the regiments began to defile through the kraal gateway in perfect silence, a fatigue party only remaining behind to drag away the corpses of those who had been sacrificed.
Filing through the kraal gate, we marched across the open space to where the ex-king sat.
When we arrived within two miles of the kraal we could see that company after company of men were issuing from its gates and marching towards us.
And at the time Imotu was sick with a wound, and lay in his kraal not able to move.
Only last night we settled that Jim should leave me, and try to reach Sitanda's Kraal to get assistance.
That is the kraal where the wife of Imotu was last seen with the child Ignosi.
Our journey across the desert back to Sitanda's Kraal was most arduous, especially as we had to support George Curtis, whose right leg was very weak indeed, and continually threw out splinters of bone.
All along each side of this wide pathway that pierces the kraal were ranged hundreds of women, brought out by curiosity to look at us.
About half a mile from the gates of this kraal is a long stretch of rising ground sloping gently upwards from the road, and here the companies formed.
The great space in front of the king's kraal bore a very different appearance from that which it had presented on the previous evening.
Two days afterward she came to a kraal very hungry, and none would give her milk or food, now that her lord the king was dead, for all men hate the unfortunate.
Then came a pause, until presently we caught sight of an ox running straight for the kraal gate.
This was hard to conceal, and was soon discovered in the possession of a Hottentot who belonged on a kraal a short distance from Cape Town.
Yet, white men though they were, the unexpected visitants of the Kraal did not pause in their course to notice the unfortunate lovers, but dashed on towards the ravine, where they perceived the cattle and their drivers.
Kraal indicates a hamlet of huts, as well as a solitary dwelling: I have endeavoured to distinguish the one from the other by prefixing a large K to the former.
Gray's narration of the events which had been the cause of his leaving Umlala's Kraal did not particularly move Lyle or Doda; if the latter had any suspicion of the deserter's regard for his daughter, he did not betray it.
Mawani wouldn't let the Gaika Nazelu marry his daughter, so Nazelu attacked his kraal ten years ago, and marked all the boys this way, after killing the men, or cutting off their ears and hands.
The chief councillors gathered the people of the Kraal in a great circle fronting Umlala's dwelling, which was distinguished from the rest by its size.
The swollen rivers had detained many a Kafir from a thieving or hunting expedition; but Lee knew he was some distance from any kraal of importance.
We halted at the Engineer's station on a commanding grassy ridge, which neighbours that once occupied by Mosilikatse's old kraal of Gubulawayo during the forties, fifties, and sixties of this century.
We reached Clifton, a little kraal of houses and bungalows, and left the tram and walked down to the lower road through an old farm-garden.
The nearer colony at Rondebosjen (which is to be converted into a cattle kraal and to be provided with a gate) is to be called the "Dutch garden.
And soon the mighty kraal which had been the home of a warrior-nation for so long a time was quite deserted--given over to those four grisly figures, writhing there upon their stakes in blood and agony.
And at the high end of the kraal were two companies of slayers, or executioners, bearing thongs and heavy knob-sticks.
Thinking such thoughts, I was wandering at eventide between the great kraal and the river when I came upon old Masuka gathering herbs.
But scarcely had the rear of the last column passed out through the gates than flames and smoke were seen issuing from four points of the kraalat once.
On the morrow, ere yet the sun was up, heralds went running throughout Ekupumuleni, crying aloud that none might venture away from the kraal on pain of death.
I would fain rest within the kraalof the Black Bull, and dwell with this nation forever.
The pool beyond Ncwelo's kraal is not far, and the moon will not take long to sink now.
This kraal was of greater size than Ekupumuleni, and the surroundings far pleasanter, for there was abundance of grass, well watered by streams which never ran dry; and the rolling plains and dark forest belts were swarming with game.
Ncwelo's kraal to the number of nearly a hundred, Janisa's clan, who were in charge of some of the cattle outposts, and the followings of many petty chiefs.
I took my driver in case of accidents, as leopards and lions were known to be there, as one old Griqua told me they frequently lost a goat by being taken from the kraal at night.
He was sitting on an old champagne box, leaning back against the cattle kraal fence in his usual undress; immensely fat and tall, he looks every inch an African king.
From thiskraal the road divides, one going to Chene Chene, where the chief Maklapan lives on the bank of the Notuane, and then to Motsode, taking the Limpopo river road to Ba-Mangwato.
The chief Khama came to me and said he would take charge of my oxen and horse, and send them to the same kraal he sent them before, if I would send a man to look after them, with one of his, and keep them until wanted.
I purchased of Klass Lucas, the chief, living at his large kraal on the banks of the Orange, near Orleans drift, a large Africander sheep, for 2 lbs.
They have their cattle-posts away in the bush, where the stock is looked after, cows milked, and once or twice a week a pack-ox is loaded up with skins of milk and taken to the kraal for use.
I had now to think of myself, for I knew that the niggers in the kraal had not spared me out of kindness, but only that I might attend to the white man, who was their friend.
At the edge of the kraal I made a dash for it, and kept running for three miles.
Here some ceremony was in progress, for soldiers stood round the kraal while heralds pranced and shouted.
So I told him everything, although until that moment I had not made up my mind to go upon this journey, I who had come here to his kraal by accident, or so it seemed, and by accident had delivered to him a certain message.
Indeed, the cattle-kraal still remained and in such good condition that by piling up a few stones here and there on the walls and closing the narrow entrances with thorn bushes, we could still use it to enclose our oxen at night.
An hour or two later some noise from the direction of the cattle-kraal woke me up.
Next he asked me where he was now, to which I replied that I had not the faintest idea, but I presumed in hiskraal where I had left him.
Our guides led me, with Hans sneaking after me like a dejected and low-bred dog (for the waggon had stopped outside the gate), across the kraal to where the heralds shouted and the big man sat yawning.
They shoot enough for us to eat heartily, they buy drink for us at every kraal they stop at, and if they have seen no game they buy a sheep.
At the first kraal they came to they learned that the natives were everywhere much excited.
There was not a scrap of food to be found in the place; but fortunately there was a small thatched kraal inside the yard which gave some forage for the horses.
They, therefore, walked at a quiet pace, talking and gesticulating to each other as they went, so that they might be taken for a party going from one kraal to another.
That will do very well indeed," Ronald said, "for every inch that we can get nearer to Macomo's kraal is so much gained.
It was eight o'clock in the evening, and the sun had set some time, when they approached the kraal of Macomo.
Now we know where Macomo's kraal is we can go straight through the bush.
Before approaching a kraal a halt was always made, and one of the Fingoes went on ahead to see if the fires were out and all natives inside their huts.
Boys galloped out to the fields to drive the cattle into the kraal that had been constructed within easy range of the guns of the defenders of the Fort.
I saw them in the kraal behind the house as we rode up," Ronald said.
There was a good deal of hubbub in the kraal when the women told their story; some of the men took up their weapons and searched the village and the surrounding bushes, but the greater portion altogether disbelieved the story.
Then, of course, you do not know at all where Macomo's kraal is?
If we no meet them we go straight to Amatolas to find out the kraal to which they take her, and then see how to get her off.
The news is being passed from kraal to kraal," Ronald said; "they will be up like a swarm of bees now, but search as they will they are not likely to find us here.
If Macomo's kraal anywhere this side, they may get there.
The Fingo pointed to the exact position among the hills where Macomo's kraal was.
Of course this set the natives of the kraal into a ferment of joyous festivity, and the sportsmen rose very high in their estimation, insomuch that they overwhelmed them with gifts of native produce.
They had come down from the kraal to enjoy the sport and get some of the meat, of which they are particularly fond.
I happened to be up at the kraal currying favour with the chief man, for he has the power of bothering us a good deal if he chooses, and I observed what they did with this same dead man.
That night the sportsmen received from the kraal large and gratifying gifts of eggs, bread, rice, beer, pumpkins, and all the produce of the land.
They would put two and two together, and, connecting it in some way with his presence at their kraal that night, would entirely change their plan, probably with disastrous result to the white population.
But none appeared, nor did a closer investigation as he moved about within the kraal show further cause for anxiety.
They had topped a rise, and now on the slope beneath, and in front, stood two or three buildings, with the usual native huts and goatkraal behind.
Those within the houses find it all they can do to keep the assailants already within the cattle kraalfrom pouring over, and rushing the position.
The few calves in the kraal were bellowing impatiently for their defaulting mothers, and some fowls were clucking and scratching about.
I did not want the chief of this kraal to know that I thought the chief of izanusi equal to him by giving him an equal gift.
The kraal was wrapped in silence, save for an indistinct hum here and there, where some of its occupants still carried on a lingering conversation.
So still was the greatkraal that it might have been the abode of the dead--the clustering huts so many mausoleums.
