Indeed Barreto marched exactly in the same way against the Mongas as Lord Chelmsford three centuries after marched against the Zulus at Ulundi. And the Mongas adopted the same tactics as the Zulus. "They advanced in the form of a crescent," says Monclaro, "and almost surrounded us on every side." Both accounts speak of the enemy using arrows, but it is easy to understand how these might be confused with the thrown assegai. In the various fights the Mongas advanced bravely, advancing almost to the guns.
"The Kafirs," says de Couto, "approached in a semi-circle, preceded by an aged woman whom they looked upon as a great sorceress. When near our army she took a small quantity of dust from a gourd which she carried, and threw it into the air, by which she had made the Mongas believe all our men would be blinded and fall into their hands. This they so firmly believed that they had brought many ropes with which to bind them. The governor, seeing the old Kafir woman making antics before them all, thought that she must be a sorceress, and commanded the gunner to fire the falcon at her, which he did, taking such good aim that the ball shattered the wretched creature, which seemed to stupefy the Kafirs, as they believed her to be immortal. For this the governor took off a handsome gold chain which he wore, and put it around the gunner's neck. This did not prevent the Kafirs from falling upon our men in savage disorder, with great cries and shouts, brandishing their swords and darts which they call pomberas.
The swords may have been stabbing assegais, and it is worth noting that the Mongas also carried the knobkerry.
As for Monclaro, he led the fight with his crucifix, like the fanatic he was. It was noticed that wherever I was with the crucifix, although the arrows were numerous, no one was wounded by them within ten or twelve paces of it; and, looking up in some fear of the arrows, I observed that though many seemed falling on my head, the Lord, whose image I carried in my hands, diverted them, so that they left as it were an open space, within which no one was wounded, although I was in the front, and they came with great force, the wind being now in their favour. Barreto's generalship and his arquebuses and cannon were too much for the Mongas. They thought that the white men were wizards, who had medicine too potent to be overcome. When the smoke of the guns enveloped the little square in a cloud, the enemy was astonished, saying that we were great wizards, since we could turn day into night. At last, after a fight in which Barreto defended a laager made of tree-trunks and brush-wood, and after more than four thousand of the enemy had been slain, the chief sued for peace. Barreto received the ambassadors in state, seated in a velvet-covered chair. The governor wore a strong coat of mail with sleeves, with a sword ornamented with silver hung crossways, and a page stood near him with a shield of shining steel. When the Kafir was brought before him he was so overcome with amazement that he could not speak or answer any of the questions put to him, but trembled from head to foot. The natives were still more frightened when they saw the camels, which, they were assured, fed upon human flesh, and they agreed to Barretos terms with the most respectful alacrity. Nevertheless, in this first great campaign between the black man and the white in South Africa, it was the white man that was really beaten. The Portuguese were encumbered by sixty wounded and many sick; they were sho

Identifier: southafric00colv (find matches)
Title: South Africa
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Colvin, Ian Duncan, 1877-1938
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Publisher: London Edinburgh, T.C. & E.C. Jack
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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n stabbing assegais, and it is worth noting that the Mongas also carried the knobkerry. As for Monclaro, he led the fight with his crucifix, like the fanatic he was. It was noticed that wherever I was with the crucifix, although the arrows were numerous, no one was wounded by them within ten or twelve paces of it; and, looking up in some fear of the arrows, I observed that though many seemed falling on my head, the Lord, whose image I carried in my hands, diverted them, so that they left as it were an open space, within which no one was wounded, although I was in the front, and they came with great force, the wind being now in their favour. Barreto's generalship and his arquebuses and cannon were too much for the Mongas. They thought that the white men were wizards, who had medicine too potent to be overcome. When the smoke of the guns enveloped the little square in a cloud, the enemy was astonished, saying that we were great wizards, since we could turn day into night. At last, after a fight in which 38
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Barreto Fights the Kafirs THE QUEEN OF SHEBAS MINES Barreto defended a laager made of tree-trunks and brush-wood, and after more than four thousand of the enemy had been slain, the chief sued for peace. Barreto received the ambassadors in state, seated in a velvet-covered chair. The governor wore a strong coat of mail with sleeves, with a sword ornamented with silver hung crossways, and a page stood near him with a shield of shining steel. When the Kafir was brought before him he was so overcome with amazement that he could not speak or answer any of the questions put to him, but trembled from head to foot. The natives were still more frightened when they saw the camels, which, they were assured, fed upon human flesh, and they agreed to Barretos terms with the most respectful alacrity. Nevertheless, in this first great campaign between the black man and the white in South Africa, it was the white man that was really beaten. The Portuguese were encumbered by sixty wounded and many sick; they were sho

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