It was certainly a nasty place to be attacked in.

The valley was narrow, and thickly strewn with boulders of all sizes, which had rolled down from the hillsides.
Among these the bush grew thickly, and it was only down a narrow path in the centre, formed by a winter stream, now dry, that horsemen could pass.
"I don't think it would do to make a bolt through that, sir," the sergeant said, shaking his head.

"We could only ride two abreast and, if they are strong, we should be riddled with spears before we got through; and there's no charging them, among those stones and bush." "That is so, sergeant.

We shall have to dismount, and drive them out foot by foot.

There's nothing else for it." By this time all the party had come up, and Reuben explained to them the situation.