Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/149

 I ^878] Suppression of the Rebellion. 129 number of Xosas killed and wounded was very great, but as they managed to slip away and conceal them- selves, carrying their wounded and some of their dead with them, no correct estimate can be given. Three hundred and twenty-eight dead bodies were seen and counted in different parts of the field of operations during these days, which, without going further, was a very heavy loss to the insurgents. Only eleven adult male prisoners were taken, for they declined all in- vitations to surrender. On the European side the losses were considerable also. One military officer, six volun- teers, and eight soldiers were killed, and fully double that number were wounded. About twenty Fingos were either killed outright or died afterwards from wounds. The diamond field horse under Colonel Warren took a prominent part in these operations, but on the 14th of May it was obliged to leave to return to Griqualand West to aid in suppressing a rebellion of the combined Griquas, Koranas, and Batlapin there. The greater number of the rebels were now absolutely without other food than such wild plants as were to be found in the forest, so they were obliged to leave the Amatola fastnesses and disperse in small parties over the open country. In such a desperate condition, hunted night and day, any other people would have surrendered at once, but as long as their chiefs were not promised pardon and liberty they would not give themselves up. Sandile sent twice to the nearest mili- tary post to ask for peace, probably hoping that lenient terms would be offered to him, as had been the case before. But the government was determined to stamp out rebellion thoroughly, and so the only answer given to the chief was that he must surrender unconditionally. This he declined to do, and so hunting the insurgents as if they were jackals went on. Before the 28th of May one hundred and sixty-nine of those who had left the forest were killed and forty- 10