o wagons were kept in as compact an order of march as possible, and on the leading wagon a cannon was carried.

The cannon was fired, laager was formed, and at the cannon signal all the other parties rallied on the laager, which mas circular in form, oxen and horses inside, wagons chained together, and wagon saiIs over the wagons and pegpl to the ground outside.

In 1812, after commenting on the extraordinary animals of the South African interior, the famous English traveler William J. Burchell wished that guns would spread more extensively to help people kill off the unwanted beasts.

In 1859, Natal required all Africans to register their firearms with the lieutenant governor. This did not totally disarm Africans, but it was a crucial first step.

Many Africans had to surrender their guns under the terms of a new Peace Preservation Act passed in 1878

but