coulddistinguishthenativescollectingfromallpartsandevidentlysurroundingourposition。Ithereforepostedmenasskirmishersaroundthecircleabouteightyyardsdistantfromthestockade，facingoutwards，whilethesmallpartyforcedthegateway。
Thefireofthesniderriflesandthesteadyshootingofthe”FortyThieves”quicklyreducedthenumberofarrows，andthenatives，findingthatitwasgettingtoohot，suddenlymadeadashbyasecretentranceandrushedthroughthetroops，nowofnecessitywidelyscattered，andtheygainedtheforest。
Atthesametimethegatewaywasforced，andwefoundaprizewithinofupwardsofsixhundredcows。Thestockade，orzareeba，wasimmenselystrong，formedofmassivelogsofironwooddeeplyimbeddedintheearth，andarrangedsocloselytogetherthatnotonebulletoutoftenwouldhavefounditswaythroughthecrevicesiffiredfromadistance。Theproperwaytoattackthecircularstrongholdsistomakeasuddenrushcloseuptothedefence，andtolaytheriflebetweentheopenings；thestockadethenbecomesaprotectiontotheattackingparty，asthereisnoflankfiretoenfiladethem。
Thenativeswerenowgatheringonallsides；butwewereinpossession，andalthoughourpartyconsistedofonlyseventymen，wehadanimpregnableposition，whichIcouldholduntiljoinedbyTayibAgha。I
accordinglytookafewofthe”FortyThieves”toadistanceofabout150