The Express.
London, England, 1856-10-13 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have reoeived files of papers from Cape Town
to the sth of August inclusive.
The following communication had been received
from the Free State:

Mooi River Dorp, Jane 23.

On Friday morning, the 13th June, sever•l waggons,
forming pert of the second division of the Commando, left
Moot Bayer Dcrp for the lager at Mariko. They rode the
first evening as far u Mat Sprott, a noted place for lions.
Mr. Philip van Coller and his brother wishing to proceed,
lupin ed their we gg .ris about midniglitalthough they were
strongly advised by their companions not to rid* before morn-
ing. They bad scarcely ridden an hour, when the oxen were
suddenly frightened. Philip van Collet jumped off his wag-
gon and endeavoured to tura them, but Rot succeeding in
doing •o, sprang upon the waggon-trap, from which he
mut have been immediately dragged by a lug* lion, with
such farce as to break one of the trap riems. He was heard
to cry out twice for help, but in the confusion cf the aro-
seat was not missed, his brother Adolph being busy at the
time on bonsai ack, endeavouring to stop the oxen, which
were going at • fearful rate through the veld. With much
difficulty be succeeded in doing so, and then returned to
look for his miraiog brother, whose body he found about
daybre eh, and the lion coaching about 12 yards from
it. With a keling of desperation he levelled his gun
and fired at the animal : the aim was good, and as the ball
passed riot through ita brad, it fell down on the spat.
Oa coming n to his brother's body, the poor men
was sadly shocked at its mutilated condition, the lion
having carried it • long distance, and then devoured
the greater pc rtlon. The remains were hastily conveyed to
town, and upwards of eighty pi no: s attended the funeral.
Poor Philip van Colley leavu a widow and several children
to deplore their loss and his melaccholy end.
P.S.-1 have sines learnt that, previous to the oxen be-
coming frightened, the lista font attacked, without eny pro-
woe ition, Adolph van Coller and three other men, who were
riding on horseback same distance in front of the waggon.
Having unfortunately no guns with them, they jumped off
their horses, and stood between them and the lion. The
lion, however, arpeared to be more anxious to attack them
than their hors, a, on which they shouted, and threw their
hats at him, and afterwards fired the grass, when he left
them and went to the waggon. The surrounding country
being all occupied, the lions appear to have concentrated
themselves at this spa', where they are extremely bold.

NATAL

We have advicea from Port Natal to July 18.

An important discovery bad been made—namaly, the
ealstesee of • sea communication with the Western sugar
planter.. Captain Maxwell, of Durban, bad returned from
the Domingo, haying completed • osteful aid complete
survey of the mouth of that river, and of its course for
sees rsl miles inland. As has Inlly ascertained that it nay
be *mitered at ell times by vessels of from 30 to 60 tons. The
chancel it wide, and less at low water than six feet in
depth. Inside, the water is deep for a emssiderable distaace,
without side sand fiats, but flowing full up to firm bashes
adapted for mercantile porpotes. Vessels may commonly
enter and depart with • lair wind, sod stay lie within the
inner basin of the riser is perfect fatty. It Ii navigable
for good used boat. fora distance of from 10 to 16 miles up.
The loud Is the neighbouthold is represented u el-
Ingly Ilse, and perfectly adapted is ell respects (or tropical
se well as European agriculture