Historical records of the 91st Argyllshire ... - waughfamily.ca

9 1ST ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS. 269strength. As a corps got old, its numbers 1879.diminished,for the vacancies were not filledup.The men were armed with assegaisand knobkerries,while a certain number had guns ;butopinions as to how manythere were who hadthem are so diverse that it isimpossibleto domore than guess. There were probably some8000 or 9000 guns in the country. Each mancarried a shield made of bullock's hide, slasheddown the centre, with a long stick run through.There is no doubt that, a long time previous tothe outbreak of the war, the attitude of the Zulushad become very threatening.It is said that theyoung regiments were clamouring to " wash theirspears," one of the traditional qualifications formatrimony, and Cetywayo was looking about togive them an opportunity.In 1878 a Zulu impi (army), composed of some3000 men, made a demonstration on the Natalborder, along the left bankof the Lower Tugela.This was done under the pretence of hunting.It nevertheless alarmed the white inhabitants ofNatal, who felt that there was nothing to preventthe Zulu king from marching 30,000 men overthe border and sacking Durban in twenty-four