The forts were built in a semicircle towards that side, and although this would be of little importance once the fight had begun (because the defenders had only to jump over the wall to find themselves still entrenched), still it was to the advantage of the attacking party to come from a side where they would not be expected.
These reasons brought me to the conclusion that the English would not be on the look-out for us from the west, and I therefore decided to make the attack from this side, the steep side of the mountain.

But I did not then know how steep it really was.
On the western point there were four forts close to each other.

Each was sufficient to give shelter to about twenty five men.

To the south there were four forts, and to the east three.
The top of the mountain was not more than three to four hundred paces in diameter.

To the east in a hollow the convoy was placed, and from every _schanze_ we could rake it with our fire.
I remained on the spot from which I was reconnoitring, and sent word to the commando, in the afternoon of the 24th of December, to come to a certain place at Tijgerkloof, which they could do without being observed.