The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-29 00:00:00

Ad/C--e/Zirt

£12,373 II 7

t 114413014

No. 25.] LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPT. 29,1846. [3d.

only, or even the chief reliance of the army, the campaign is
over. The forces must fall back on their magazines, or
breakup"

In order to cover the landing of supplies, the 27th
Regiment had proceeded to the mouth of the Fish
River, where it would occupy a camp on the east
side of the stream. Lieut. Col. Johnstone had been
appointed to command Fort Dacres, and Major
O'Reilly the forces at Graham's Town. There was a
rumour that Sir Andreas Stockenstrom was indis-

posed, but it needed confirmation.
It is understood that the formation of a Harbour
of Refuge in Table Bay, by the construction of a break-
water, is to be shortly commenced, and that the Colonial
Officer proposes to raise the requisite means on the credit
of the British government, and on terms most favourable
to the colony. The Lords of the Admiralty have
suggested some very valuable improvements on the
plan recommended in the report of the commission
appointed by the Governor to inquire into the prac-
ticability of constructing such a harbour; but it is,
however, understood that the plan recommended by
the commission has been fully approved, and will in
the main be the one acted upon.
(From the Graham's Town Journal, of July 11.)
WEDNESHAY.—An express arrived this morning from
Fort Beaufort, with the mournful intelligence of the death
of Mr. Gordon Nourse, one of the most intelligent, enter-
prising, and high-spirited residents on this frontier. The
facts of the case, as detailed in a communication from the
Lieutenant-Governor, Colonel Hare, to the officer command-
ing Graham's Town, are to the following purport :
On the evening of the sth instant, a small party of the '
Kaffirs having succeeded in capturing a herd of about 100
head of cattle, while grazing near the Guala Post, the reef-
dence of the deceased, were immediately followed by him
and a few others. The marauders were oveetaken in the
kloofe, and the cattle were re-captured, with the less of
four of the enemy who were shot. Nr. N. had nearly
reached the end of the kloof when a ball, fired with fatal
precision by a lurking Kaffir, stretched him lifeless, and
also one of his companions—as we understand a man of
colour. We are informed that another of the party was also
wounded."
The men who rode the express report that on Monday
evening last six or eight mounted Kaffirs approached to
within gun shot of the wooden bride at Fort Beaufort,
and fired a volley. The place was instantly in alarm, and
put suit wan made, but the marauders, who appear to have
been actuated by a mere spirit of bravado, were off, scam-
pering through the bushes which are thickly spread over
the ground in that neighbourhood, and high up the Ktif-
firlaud mountains. We learn also that thirty head of the
contractor's slaughter cattle were swept off tri.,m the
vicinity of Fort Beaufort about 11 days ago. This morning
Lieut.-Col. Johnstone, with the 27th regiment, marched
from Graham's Town for the mouth of Fish River, where
he is appointed to command the camp on the eastern side of
that stream, and also Fort Dacres, on this bank. The
month of the Fish River and its vicinity is to be, it is un-
derstood, the depot, not only for government supplies, but
also for cattle captured from the enemy. Th;s evening an
express reached town with the welcome intelligence of the
arrival of the Waterloo, at the Fish River. Every prepara-
tion was in progress, at the time the accounts left, fur the
landing of the supplies required by the troops now encamped
in the immediate vicinity of the spot in question.
Report received this morning from Hilton states that a strong
party of Kaffir, had made their appearance in the vicinity of
that station, and had attemated to carry off the cattle while
grazing in the field. In this attempt the marauders were,
however, baffled, but assistance was urgently requested, it
being thought that the Kalfirs were in considerable force,
and that another attempt woull be made to secure this
booty. A party of 800 Stellenbosch Burvhers was imme-
diately ordered to move on this point, and who proceeded
there accordinely, under Field Commandant Onkruydt.
Fitiney.—Commandant Onkruydt, with the Stellenbosch
Burghers, returned to town last evening, after having
thoroughly scoured the jungle in the vicinity of Vaal Krantz
and Hell Ponrt, where it was supposed the Kaffirs who, as
reported, hod attempted to drive off the Ililton camp cattle,
had taken shelter. No Kettles were, however, fallen in with,
nor could the spoor of any be seen in that direction. . .
Received intbrmation this morning that a party of Kaffirs,
15 of whom lied been mounted, had been seen near the
junction of the Kat and Fish Riven. This point is not far
from Fort Dams, and, if correct, there is no doubt but the
marauder.., will he well looked after, but we refer to the case
an bearing upon the subject of the omission in re-esta-
blishing the post on what is called Upper Kaffir',
Drift, one of the most important positions along
the line of frontier. It commands the first prac-
ticable ford up the river from its mouth, and across
which large numbers of the cattle, driven off from along the
coast, have passed. Besides this, not only does it protect
that drift, but is admirably situated in reference to the
broken woerly country, lying between it and Trompetter's,
including Fear r's Camp, the Koms, the Clay Pits, tic.
The abandonment of this post has ever been felt as a serious
disadvantage by the inhabitants of Lower Albany, but
whether its resumption as a permanent post be desirable,
will, of course, depend upon the measures which may be
adopted in the settlement of the Kaffir question, and eerie-
daily in reference to the occupation of the " Ceded
Territory."
SATURDAr.—Received the following communication from
Fort Beaufort, dated 7th instant:—
Bodies of Kaffirs, consisting of from 10 to 20, continue
to infest this part of the frontier, and whenever they can
succeed in driving off flocks or herds by stealth, they do so,
avoiding, however, to combat, either to capture or for the
protection of what they may have stolen. In these fimays
several horrible murders have been committed lately by these
cowardly assassins on herdsmen in the vicinity of the place.
Last week they shot two Fingoes while herding cattle near
Macomo's Kraal, and not satisfied with killing the poor fellows
they tormented one of them by flaying his face while he was
yet alive. The other escaped from them mortally wounded,
but has since died. The day after this Field Captain Lox-
ton was ordered out with his Hottentot corps on es ort
duty, and on his return home at daybreak of the 2nd inst.,
he discovered the traces of a flock of sheep which the
Kaffirs were attempting to drive across a drift cn the
Kat River, near the Blinkwater Post, but who on hearing
the approach of his men had taken shelter in the bush
with the sheep. On being followed into the thicket the
Kaffirs retreated, eying 490 sheep in the hands of the
pursuing party. From circumstances which have trans-
pired subsequently, it appears that these marauders, after
losing their bootv, took post during the remainder of
the day on a high conical bill, overlooking the spot
where the sheep had been taken, watching the herds from
the Blinkwater Post. in hopes that chance would afford them
an opportunity of repairing their loss at the expenee of these
men. Unfortunately some straggling sheep being seen near
where these Kaffirslay in ambush, two of these men were in-
duced to proceed towards the spot, and were intercepted and
fired on—one having his arm sbaetered.and the other his gun
split in two near the lock. The latter, however, escaped, and
on reporting the case, Capt. Loxton was ordered out with his
company to the spot, whence the bloodspoor was traced for
about half a mile, and here a most shocking spectacle pre-
sented itself. It appeared that the wounded man had dropped
from loss of blood, and that the Kaffirs bad then tortured
him in a horrible manner. They had first torn open the
alcove of the shattered arm, they had ripped open the
wound with the assegai, and extracted the bullet. They
next stabbed him once in the bowels and six times in the
neck, also in the mouth and breast, and mutilated and
bruised the broken arm with knobbed keerics. The remains
of this unfortunate man being buried, the bush was then
effectually scoured, but without finding the murderers. This
is now generally the ease, the Kaffirs never presenting them-
selves voluntarily, unless in overwhelming numbers.
Besides these affairs, one or two other skirmishes hare been
reported, in one of which the friendly Kaffir, Hermann'', re-
captured a few head of cattle and killed one or two of the
marauders ; another is the Case of Mr. Ryneveld's company,
who having pursued some of his oxen which had been
carried off, succeeded in overtaking them and shooting two
out of the three Kettles who were driving them. The third,
who was on horseback, escaped. Information has been re-
ceived that a number of Kaffirs have been seen in Vader
Kloeff (behind the Kromme Berg), and a force was to be
sent in quest of them."
Received also information of a spirited affair, on Thurs-
day evening, between a party of lingoes and Kaffirs in the
vicinity of Fort Beaufort. It appears that in the after-
noon of that day a strong party of Kaffirs suddenly pre-
sented themselves and attempted to capture the cattle. fhe
Fingoes, however, who were in charge of them, resisted
this with determined bravery, and ultimately beat off the
assailants. Five Fingoes were killed in this affair and
eight Kaffirs. The dust made by the cattle was seen at Fort
Beaufort some time before the cause of it was known, but
on the alarm being given, a party of the C. M. Rifles was
immediately ordered to the spot, who, however, only
reached it after the Kaffirs had returned into the fastnesses
of the hills. The war-cry of the Fingoc women was kept
up in Fort Beaufort the whole night.... Messrs. Cawood's
(the government contractors) drovers reached town last
night with about 70 oxen and 1,200 sheep. They report
that the country along that line is still infested by
Kaffirs. One of their parties was seen crossing a spur
of the Zuurberge towards Kaftirland, with a drove of cat-
tle, an advanced guard on horseback being in front, and
many others on foot bringing up the rear. Near the Little
Fish River Drift a farm-house had recently been fired by
the enemy, and was burning at the time they passed. Near
Riebeck they also fell in with Kaffirs, one of whom came
forward and accosted them, asking for tobacco and food.
On this being refused he returned to the adjacent bush, at
the edge of which ho was joined by two or three of his fel-
lows, all of whom squatted down, and watched the cattle
and sheep as they were driven forward. They fired two
shots, apporently as a signal, but no attack was made, pro-
bably disappointed in not receiving a reinforcement, or
by the determination evinced by the drovers, ten
in number, and well armed, to protect their charge.
Received some further information respecting the death
of the lamented Gordon Nourse, and from which it
appears he succeeded in reaching home, and sur-
vived the fatal wound about two hours, perfectly conscious
that it was mortal. The ball it seems struck him a little
above the hip, and cutting upwards obliquely had r sesed out