 Hundreds of European settlers were killed within the first few weeks of the revolt and many more would die over the next year and a half.With few troops to support them, the settlers had to quickly build a laager in the centre of Bulawayo on their own.Against over 50,000 Ndebele held up in their stronghold of the Matobo Hills the settlers mounted patrols under such people as Burnham, Baden-Powell, and Selous.