The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-17 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

TIIIS DAY. Four o'Clock.

By the arrival of the Malabar off Folkestone, we
have late news from the Cape of Good Hope, with
journals from Graham's Town to the 13th, and Cape
'Town to the 20th December. From these we collect
that affairs opin the frontiers remained unsettled.
Sir Peregrine Maitland was at Block Drift (now
Fort Hare), organising the settlement of " British I
Kaffraria," and Mr. Celderwood, the commissioner,
is represents ,l as evincing energy and decision in
his dealings with the Kaffir,, who were coming
in to tender what was considered by some merely a
professed subinission. Many of them were notoriously
among the most worthless of this class, and it was felt
that little, if any, dependance could be placed upon
their promises, as, while professing to surrender all,
there was e% idence to show that they had only re-
gistered a small portion of their cattle. "These fact',"
says the correspondent of the Graham's Town Journal,
" show that the Kaffirs are not humbled, or inclined
to submit, and that their apparent humility is a mere
matter of expediency. They say that the drought
beat them, not us, and that, as far as fighting went,
they had the best of it. I cannot see how matters
or things are likely to end, so as to satisfy the
colony. At present we are making no party in
Kaffirland, that is, obtaining no footing among the
people. The governor is firm in refusing to acknow-
ledge the chiefs ; but as to getting them or the mass
of the people really to submit, is out of the question.
They do not admit they are a conquered people. They
have been put to straits by the drought, but they have
got the cattle; and though they will not fight, yet
neither will they give them up. Very few guns have
been given up; in fact, none comparatively that
could be used. But every man who is unregistered,
is obliged to produce six sssagaie, and in this
way several thousand aassgaia have been given in.
The Kaffirs do not appear to value them now they
have got guns. On the whole the Kaffir. are evi-
dently not settled, but appear to be reserving them-
selves to take advantage of any circumstance which
may tarn up in their favour. Macomo and his son
Gona are yet at Block Drift. The former appears very
sullen; the latter is a keen observer of all that panne'
Such is the representation of the state of affairs at the
date of the last intelligence from the frontier. 'There
were rumours of preparations in progress for a forward
movement to the Buffalo, but there was nothing to
indicate the immediate resumption of hostilities, or
anything like an extensive basis of operation. In-
deed the settlement of the recently-assumed territory
seemed almost exclusively to engross official atten-
tion. The site of a new town had been selected on
a fine commanding position in the Chumie Valley,
near where Fort Thompson formerly stood, and a
chain of strong military ports were about being esta-
blished from the Amatola to the sea, but whether
along the line of the Kicekamma or Buffalo, had
not been distinctly made known.
Sir Andries Stockenstrom, on relinquishing his
office of Colonel-Commandant of the Burgher knees,
bad published an address, warmly thanking all those
who served tinder his orders for their good conduct
daring the war. Captain Sutton, of the Cape Rides,
had been appointed to succeed to Sir Andries'
command. A general order had been issued by the
governor, thanking Sir A. Stockenstrom for his
services. _ _

—.
The emigrant farmers across the north-east border
of the colony are stated to be suffering miserably from
the failure of water, the loss of crops, sheep, and
cattle, to which must be added the inconveniences
and oppressions endured from the native chiefs who
bear rule over the country.

We select the following from the Graham's Totten
Journal, 13th December :
MOXDAY.—We have information from across the bound-
ary of a very successful movement of the Fingoe Corps,
ender Field-Captain Conway, who is stationed in the jungle
tithe Fish River, between*Trompetters' post and Frazer's
tamp. It seems that Klan and cattle had been seen in
the wooded ravines and broken country bordering the
Tamache, and that on this being made known to Captain
Conway, he marched quietly un Wednesday night towards
the point in question. Reaehin the head of the Gwsztga,
he there bivouacked until daylight, and then moved down
into the kloofs in question. The result was the capture of
450 head of fine cattle, numbers of them colonial. Many
more might have been captured had the attacking
Party been provided with horses, but this not being the
ease the Kollin succeeded in getting off with them.
No fighting took place, as, on the Kaffir' observing
the character of the approaching force, they immediately
retired, with so many cattle so they could drive, deeper into
the broken country which marks this locality. It is said
that Sento, Botma, Tole, and some other chiefs are at pre-
sent in this neighbourhood. The captured cattle were said,
in the first instance, to have been taken from Sonto's people,
but subsequent accounts mention that they belonged to
Steek.—This day the 1,400 head of captured cattle, sent to
Levee Fontein, near Fort Beitufort, were distributed by
Captain Hogg to the farmers of that neighbourhood. Fur-
ther mounts also have been received from Bleck Drift, but
they are little more than confirmatory of the accounts previ-
ously received. A strong opinion is expressed that our govern-
ment will be yet outwitted by the cunning Kaffirs, but to
whklt we do not attach much importance. The abjection
made to the mode of enregiaterment appear to he better
beetled and entitled to more consideration. It is af-
firmed, that Kaffir' come in professedly to give up arms,
and to be received as British subjects; that with this
view they bring in a few new assegais, evidently made
fir the purpose, end frequently, if not generally, make
cistas to certain cattle in the possession of the govern-
ment, and which tto y usually obtain by an order from the
rtwowent commissioner. There may be difficulties
we which are not stated nor perceived; but looking
It the Proceeding so here given, it has, we must coufisa,
mere the appearance of a bribe held out to induce the indi-
vidual to make certain profeesions, than the spontaneous act
of ate truly humbled and disposed to make atonement for
°gemm which he felt conscious had been committed by him
wlwithout the slightest cause or provocation. This is a subject
.;_hich requires the grareet consideration of the authorities
`"'ullad with the carrying oat of this important matter. Let
dem remember that they are now laying a foundation, and
that if this be mixed with duplicity on either side the whole
etPentracture will be unsubstantial, and prove in the end
Utterly
Jetasoce, —Received information from Kafilrland, viet
, .
tterleo Buy, up to Bth inn: We kern by this oppor-
ty that I.Mhala had made hie appearance at Fort Ped-
nicrfewig great humility, sorrow and so forth, and ;
'Wu to haw resulted in his is;szching off with • 1