In order to avoid such losses a civilised people would have advanced by means of trenches, but of these the Quabies knew nothing; moreover, digging tools were lacking to them.
So it came about that they hit upon another, and in the circumstances a not inefficient expedient.

The cattle kraal was built of rough, unmortared stones.

Those stones they took, each man carrying two or three, which, rushing forward, they piled up into scattered rough defences of about eighteen inches or two feet high.

These defences were instantly occupied by as many warriors as could take shelter behind them, lying one on top of the other.

Of course, those savages who carried the first stones were exposed to our fire, with the result that many of them fell, but there were always plenty more behind.