THE MATABELE WARS. 740 direction,was to clear the koppies on the north side, while the right column, under Major Kershaw, cleared the south part of the group.

Theenemy were to be driven out into the open, east of the hills, where the mountedtroops,sent round by north and south, were to attack and break themup.

by his untiring devotion to the sick and wounded."

Tabas-i-Mhamba is a group of crags, with sharp summits and steep sides, burrowed with many caves. Rocks of this kind, often rising in abrupt isolation from the plain, are a feature of the South African landscape,and are locally SKETCH MAF OF THE MATABELE WARS.

knownas" koppies." TheTabas-i-Mhambagroup is about three miles across, with dense bush on the north and west,and the Umsingwane River running on its eastern side. The country was open in this direction. Plumer's plan was to approach theenemy's fastness by anight march, and attack with the infantry from the bush on the north and west in two columns. The northern or left column, under his own personal Thenight march was a complete success, and at sunrise on July 5th the attack began. It cost some sharp fighting before the enemy were driven out, for among tlae rocks and in the labyrinth of caves they had the advantageof the ground on their side, and the mountain guns and Maxims made very little impression on them. The battle was really a number of isolated actions amongthe hills,and it wasnoon