There are 1,700 soldiers at Intombi sick camp now.

A great many horses die every day, but not of the "horse-sickness." Their bodies are thrown on waste ground along the Helpmakaar road, and poison the air for the Liverpools and Rifles there.
To-night the varied smell all over the town is hardly endurable.
_January 12, 1900._ A quiet day again.

Hardly a gun was fired.

Wild rumours flew--the Boers were trekking north in crowds--they were moving the gun on Bulwan--all lies! I spent the whole day trying to induce a Kaffir to risk his life for L15.

A Kaffir lives on mealie-pap, varied by an occasional cow's head.
He drinks nothing but slightly fermented barley-water.