At 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, December 29, everything was in readiness at Pitsani Camp.
The troops were paraded, and Dr. Jameson read the letter of invitation from Johannesburg.
He then explained to the force (a) that no hostilities were intended; (b) that we should only fight if forced to do so in self-defence; (c) that neither the persons nor property of inhabitants of the Transvaal were to be molested; (d) that our sole object was to help our fellow-men in their extremity, and to ensure their obtaining attention to their just demands.
Dr. Jameson's speech was received with the greatest enthusiasm by the men, who cheered most heartily.
The above programme was strictly adhered to until the column was fired upon on the night of the 31st.
Many Boers, singly and in small parties, were encountered on the line of march; to one and all of these the pacific nature of the expedition was carefully explained.
Start from Pitsani.
The force left Pitsani Camp at 6.30 p.m., December 29, and marched through the night.
At 5.15 a.m. on the morning of the 30th the column reached the village of Malmani (39 miles distant from Pitsani).