The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-31 00:00:00

TILE TItANS-KEI EXPEDITION.

The following is the latest intelligence from the
frontier. It is from an extra Urahards Pows•Journa
of Dec. 23:

By way of King William's Town we have accounts
from Major-General Somerset's camp, on the Kei, up to
the 14th inst., at which time his division was iu possessioa
of 2,500 head of captured cattle. The weather had been
most inclement, with constant storms of wind and rani,
and dense fogs bad materially impeded the operations of
the troops. When this intelligence left, the weather was
said to be clearing up, nod on the fog dispersing it was
the intention of the Major-General to move down the /OA
towards the T'Somo, where much cattle woo supposed to
be. Major-General Somerset had not communicated with
Colonel Eyre, but the reports in camp were that the latter
had been very successful in the capture of cattle. These
reports agree with what the natives had brought down, as
published in our last issue. Nothing had been received
direct from Colonel Eyre himself, but p:ivate letters state
that he is in possession of immense booty. We have been
favoured with the following extract of a private letter from
General Somerset's camp :

We have been rather fortunate in capturieg a good
many cattle-2,300. A hoard has just been sitting to
decide as to the disposal of them, and has come to the
decision of dividing them when the different patrols shall
part for their homes. We have not had much lighting,
excepting one day at the Intabayonicheko. I was not
there, but those who were in it soy, that the work was
very hard—the Kaffirs keeping them off by rolling steam
on them, though fortunately without hurting many of our
people. Four Hottentot wagons were burnt, which it ap-
peared had been left iu the hurry of flight. Their loads
were also destroyed, consisting of mealier and corn. Crouch,
who was wounded, is about again. The force here is very
large • including Tylder's irregulars, it numbers four
thousand.

There is a rumour that the chief Seyolo has just sent ►
message to the Governor, to inquire whether there is any
chance of his obtaining peace, and on what terms he will be
required to submit himself? We believe there is some
truth in this report. So far as being a symptom that some
of the Kaffir+ at least are beginning to be tired of the war,
this act of Seyolu may be regarded as good news, and no
doubt the Governor will treat the message as he may find it
deserves.

Letters received in town this morning bring information
of the enemy's having taken advantage of the absence of
the troops on the Trans-Kei expedition, to attempt to carry
Alice and Fort Hare, where two smart affairs have taken
place, the particulars of which arc given in our corre-
spondent's latter as follows !

Mice, Dee. 19, 1851.
We have been remarkably quiet up here till last Thurs-
day, 11th, when about two o'clock, p.m., au alarm was
given that the Kaffir* were approaching, and sure enough
they were, for on looking in the direction they were sup-
peed to be coming, I saw a dark mass; of horsemen, shout
200, advancing in a body on the town and not more than
three-quarters of a mile distance. The Fingers, however,
soon turned out and began to lire lone shots when the Karlin
wheeled round and ascended the hill in the direction of Fort
Beaufort. A party of Illakeway's Horse stationed in the
fort were quickly sent sent nut in pursuit accompanied by
several civilians, but the KutHrs made off; one, however,
was shut on the hill near the Beaufort-road and another
near the village of Ely—seven were supposed to have
been killed altogether, but I am sorry to say that sic of
our brave Fisgoes who were in the Held with the cattle lost
their lives, and two women who were at work in the gar-
dens were severely wounded. So suddenly did the Kaffir'
make their appearance that the Fingers who were employed
in the gardens were almost surrounded before they had any
idea that an enemy was approaching, the greater portion of
the Kathrs being on toot and not in sight of the town. Not-
withstanding the quick movements and great numbers of
the enemy they only succeeded in getting away with about
thirty head of cattle. On the Katfirs being seen approach-
ing, Lieut.-Col. Yarborough, 91st lteg., with a promptness
which does that officer great credit, dispatched three par-
ties of soldiers to occupy different positions iu the tows. 'l' be
number of Kaffir*, horse and foot, was supposed to be
about 800.

On Friday • party of rebel Hottentots succeeded in cut-
ting of a clump of cattle not far front the fort, but they
were again quickly pursued by the Alice Mounted Levy,
under Lieutenant Boyce, and all the cattle re-captured,
together with several horses and six of their number
left dead on the held. The lingoes are said to have
captured 10 horses. The euvmy tired very little on either
of the days.
Two of the School Kann have been apprehended and
lodged in the fort for being supposed to have sent informa-
tion to the Kaffirsthat the place was now weak--most of the
lingoes having gone to the Kei--and that the cattle were
only herded by old men and boys.
Thu Cape Toren Mail, of Dee. 'X, thascomments
on the state of affairs:

There is certainly something very singular in the present
state of affairs at the seat of war.' l'he territory in
which the contest began,—and the possession of which is.
in fact, the main object 01 the strife,—has of late enjoyed
almost complete tranquillity. A truce seems to have been
established between the contending parties. Sir Harry
Smith remains stationary at King William's Town. Sandilli
possesses the Amatolas in peace. between the two, and
within sight of King William's Town, the Kalfirs are culti-
vating their gardens unmolested. The country which extends
from the Kieekamma to the Kei appears to have been consti-
tuted a neutral territory, by common consent of the bellige-
rent parties. On each side of this territory, however, the war
is waged with vigour, and under very strangecireumstances.
The Kaffir warners are in the colee.y, west of the Keit-
'canasta, and the British troops are in independent le atf-
raria, east of the Kei. Some thousands of Oinks) Kadin
and rebel Hottentots are infesting the frontier districts, end
some thousands of British 'soldiers and loyal Hottentots are
harrying Kreli'a country, more that. a hundred miles to
the eastward of the colonial border. Since the 27th of
last month, when the first column of the Trans-Kei expedi-
tion left King William's Town, the troops are reported to
have 'mowed two or three thousand head of cattle, and to
have repulsed iu several skirmishes the Kaffins of
Kreli's tribe, who attempted to resist them. In the same
period, the Kaffir and Hottentot marauders within the
colony have driven oil fri.m one term in the Fort Beaufort
district ablaut 1,400 sheep end 240 bead of cattle,—from
Post Itetief, 80 head of cattle,—from Fort l'eshlic, ;
and from Somerset and rradock districts censiderable
numbers (several hundreds) of both cattle and sheep. Tho
plunderers have usually made their descents in great force,
and, though 'sometimes repulsed with loss, have repeatedly
succeeded in heating off the small parties of fanners who at-
tempted to retake the spoil. If a balance were to be struck
between the respective acquisitions of the troops and the K af-
des, it is doubtful ins which side the advantage would be
found. The frontier colonists, who see their flocks and herds
swept away by the overwhelming forces of their swarthy
invaders, may have the satisfaction of knowing that, about
a hundred fifty milts to the eastward, some Kaffir stork-
owners are suffering simifv ealaniitis s. 'the "horrors of
war," which the Katlirs of Macones intlict 1111011 the border
settlers are retaliated by ieneral Somerset upon the Kaolin
of Krell. The opposing armies having placed the whole of
British Kaffniria between them, are waging an easy and
advantageous warfare, the one against the disorganised and
scattered colonists, the other against the ill arnica and un-
skilful warriors of the Amagaleka. So for us the conve-
nience of the chief combatants is concerned, the arrangement
may he considered highly discreet and satisfactory. W he-
I thee it will be equally favourable to the interests of the
colony, mid conducive to an early restoration of rave, re-
main* to be decided by the result. Not low perplexing
the state of our political affairs. All parties in England
seem now to be of opinion that the Cape colonists ought to
have a constitution which will confer upon them the largest
powers of local self-govenintent. Whig. tiny, and radical,
—Lord terry, Lord Derby, and Mr. Iluine—agreeing in
little else, are fully in accord upon this point. A *institution
has consequently been sent out to the *deity, and, though
by no means regarded as perfect, has yet bear
received by the inhabitants with a sati.lactiou more hearty
I and general than has born manifested in favour of any
former plan of this nature, not excepting even the popular