“We fled up the valley of the Inxu river, driving a few cattle before us. It was in the middle of winter, and at night the cold seemed to burn like fierce fire. We were pursued by the Abatembu, but they could not overtake our cattle, and having no food, were obliged to turn back. When we reached the mountains the feet of our cattle were so sore that we had to slaughter every beast, and then we went on, carrying the meat.
“No rain had fallen since our flight began, but as we ascended the mountains the cold became more and more fierce. Fuel was scarce, and every morning many lay dead around the fireplaces.
“Just before we reached the top of the mountain range the weather became warmer, and black clouds came rolling up. As night fell the wind became suddenly again cold, and then snow began to fall.
“That night saw the end of all but me. We crowded together in three lots for the sake of warmth,—all our clothing had been thrown away in the flight, so we were quite naked. The women and children crouched in the middle, and the men placed themselves around and held up their shields to try and keep off the snow. One ring of men sat on the ground and held their shields straight up, others sloped their shields outwards, whilst a few held theirs up with outstretched arms, the whole thus taking the shape of a hut.
“We huddled together as close as we could, but the wind carried the snow in between the shields in fine powder. The chattering of teeth sounded for a little while louder than the wind, and ever and anon cries of ‘Moi-ba-bo’ (A native exclamation expressive of anguish or distress) arose. Then the men in the group next to the one in which I was turned their spears against each other in their pain, and those of them who still lived scattered and died among the rocks.
“After a time the men of the outer ring died where they sat, and the last thing I remember is that a shield sank down on me; then I fell asleep. My legs and my body to the breast were covered by the people lying around me, and I was leaning forward against a man who was quite dead, although there was a little warmth still left in his body. Before I slept I ceased to feel pain, and became quite comfortable.
“I awoke feeling sharp pangs all over me. I could not move, as I was held fast by the bodies among which I was lying, and the shield above me was pressing downward with a great weight. All was quite dark, and I could hear no sound.
“I struggled hard, and gradually began to loosen myself. Suddenly I felt something slip away from the shield above me, and then I moved the shield away easily to one side, and as I did this something seemed to strike me on the eyes, a great light flashed all around me, and then I could see nothing, although I could breathe free air. It was this, the European doctor said, which, years afterwards, caused me to lose my eyesight altogether.
“You can understand what had happened:—The sun was shining brightly, there was no cloud in the sky, but the whole world was white,—white,—white;—no one, before or since, ever saw such a whiteness. I had lain so long under the shield in the darkness, that the sunlight and the snow burnt into my eyes like lightning.
“I rubbed my eyes gently, and gradually I began to see. I was still held fast by the dead people lying around me, but I kept struggling, and gradually I freed myself. Then I first recollected where I was and saw what had happened. I cried aloud and tried to remove the snow from the mound out of which I had dragged myself, but I was too stiff to do much, and I kept getting dizzy and tumbling down on the snow.