The Xhosa had recently suffered defeat during the Eighth Frontier War (1850–1853) and lost much of their cattle to an unknown disease. Sarhili kaHintsa and many of the Xhosa people embraced the prophecy but fifteen months later, the prophecies predicted by Nongqawuse did not materialize. They lost over 400,000 cattle and corn for the coming season during that time and 40,000 people are believed to have died of starvation. Those who survived resorted to begging in the Cape Colony for food and other relief.