Excelling in breed, speed, beauty,
and temper.
My little company marched forward in quick time. This was a signal for a
chorus of yells upon all sides; the big drums sounded louder than
before, and the horns of the Baris bellowed in every direction.
Great numbers of natives now advanced with their bows and arrows,
gesticulating and leaping from side to side in their usual manner, so as
to prevent the possibility of a steady aim.
As yet, they were about 600 yards distant, and I continued the march
forward as though no enemy were present. As we descended a ravine and
marched up the opposite incline, I found that the natives retired over
the next undulation. Their line of front extended about a mile and a
quarter, while we occupied at the most eighty paces.
Having marched about a mile without firing a shot, and finding that the
natives invariably fell back as we advanced, at the same time that they
kept the same interval between us, I at once understood their tactics.
It was now five o'clock; the sun would set within an hour, and their
intention was to draw us forward until darkness would reduce the power
of the rifles. They would then be able to surround us, and very possibly
over power our little force during our retreat to the vessels in the
dark.
