'Birnam Wood Moves to Dunsinane'

Coloured lithograph by Day and Son after Captain T J Lucas, Cape Mounted Riflemen, Plate 14 from the series 'Pen and Pencil Reminiscences of a campaign in South Africa', 1861.

Captain Thomas Lucas described his sketch, made during the 8th Cape Frontier War (1850-1853), as follows:

'As many parts of Kaffirland are destitute of tree or shrub, and afford no supply of firewood, the men are allowed, when approaching an encamping ground...to forage for it on the road...One walks off with a thornbush as big as himself; another cuts down a young tree which he bears away. Burnhamm Wood moving to Dunsinane' is actually verified...Each man carries enough to last him through the night, and perhaps a trifle over for the benefit of his less fortunate companions, who, being employed on escort or other duty, cannot help themselves'.

The illustration also demonstrates the non-regulation appearance of the officer's dress and the unsuitability of that of the men for campaigning in the climate and terrain of southern Africa, though some of them have adopted headgear more appropriate to the conditions.