Then the greatest of them advanced and laid his rifle at my feet.
'We believe the word of a brave man,' he said.

'We accept the mandate of the Snake.' Arcoll now took command.

He arranged for the disarmament bit by bit, companies of men being marched off from Inanda's Kraal to stations on the plateau where their arms were collected by our troops, and food provided for them.

For the full history I refer the reader to Mr Upton's work.

It took many days, and taxed all our resources, but by the end of a week we had the whole of Laputa's army in separate stations, under guard, disarmed, and awaiting repatriation.
Then Arcoll went south to the war which was to rage around the Swaziland and Zululand borders for many months, while to Aitken and myself was entrusted the work of settlement.