developing the new force along similar lines.
The Government authorized him to raise a
corps of 50 Europeans and 150 natives and
the first man was enrolled in March, 1874.
It was a strenuous job for the mutiny vet-
eran; for many years he was his own adju-
tant, paymaster and quartermaster, as his
only officers were two inspectors and a ser-
geant-major.

RECRUITS ARE SCARCE

Considerable difficulty was experienced
at first in obtaining suitable recruits and
such as presented themselves were a mixed
lot. Many were young men of good families
who had not been in the Colony long and,
having spent the little money they brought
out with them, joined the force more for
the sake of a temporary living than with
the intention of remaining in the service.
Others were colonial born men who had
led an unsettled life for many years and
never stuck to anything long. Then there

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Page Eighty-two

were ex-soldiers and sailors, many of whom
were inclined to drink; so much choosing
had to be done to select suitable men, and
it was a difficult task for Major Dartnell
to raise his force from such material, as
the Government would not allow him to
bring recruits from outside the Colony. To
obtain mounts for the men was not an easy
task, as good saddle horses were scarce in the
Colony at this time and the low country
of Natal was not healthy for horses, im-

watwyas

gaeniea

The first useful work done by the force
was in May, 1874, when Inspector George
Mansel, made an extended patrol to the
western border of the Colony with a de-
tachment of sixteen troopers; the object
being to prevent any of the rebel chief
Langalibalele’s men, who had been driven
out of the Colony, from returning there.
The party established a camp close to the
Drakensberg Mountains, where the altitude
causes freezing weather at night and the

Zulu Warriors.

ported ones often succumbing to the deadly
horse sickness before they became accli-
mated.

The first uniforms obtained were of dark
brown corduroy and as they were ready-
made, a ship’s sailmaker was employed as
tailor, whose simple method of adjusting
the uniform to the men was to take it in
until it was skin tight. Later it was changed
to a black, neat appearing uniform of the
hussar type, with black top boots and white
helmet. This uniform was worn until the
outbreak of the South African War, when
it was substituted by a plain khaki one with
a khaki helmet.

At first the “barracks” consisted of a
few tents at the back of Fort Napier, Pie-
termaritzburg, where a regiment of British
soldiers was quartered. The men were
armed with Westly Richards carbines and
under the tuition of Sergt. Major “Puffy”
Stean, a man of tireless energy who had
made his repuration in the Cape Mounted
Rifles, the white recruits soon were cap-
able of carrying out the drill and evolu-
tions of a squadron of cavalry. The natives
that enlisted had their own quarters and
officers; they wore a different type of uni-
form; a black jumper and shorts, with legs
and feet bare. These kaffr policemen
were armed with aessegais* and knob ker-
ries t. They were faithful and obedient,
made good messengers and could travel
great distances on foot without showing
signs of fatigue.

* Native spear.

+ War clubs.

troopers, having no tents, suffered badly
from exposure.

Towards the end of May the Comman-
dant at last secured barracks at Pieter —
maritzburg for his growing corps. He was
able to rent a building on Church Street
which, though very primitive, served as
headquarters for the police for 17 years. It
was a rough life for the men, most of whom
slept in tents and did their own fatigues,
for none below the rank of sergeant was
allowed a native servant while at head-
quarters. In 1890 a suitable barracks was
erected on a hill overlooking Pietermaritz-
burg and Police headquarters was trans:
ferred there. This building was on the
plan of a cavalry barracks with offices,
messrooms, hospital ward and canteen and

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