The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-07 00:00:00

DN 9 s A 4;!

TEE KAFIR WAR.

PLYMOUTH, TUESDAY.

The Harbinger, Captain Lane, with the mails from
the Cape, Sierra Leone, and St. Vincent, arrived
this morning, having left the Cape on the 2d De-
cember, Sierra Leone on the 17th, and St. Vincent
on the 23d.

She bas a general cargo, and the Lfollowing pas-
sengers :—Commissiary-General Miller, Lieutenant-
Cole, Mr. Prince and son, 'Mr. Roberts, Mr. Fen-
wick, and Mr. Rotbery. The Lady of Lieutenant-
Colonel Cole died on her passage, and was buried at
St. Vincent.

The news by this arrival is of the same disastrous
nature—the faithlesslness of the local corps adding
much to the difficulties of the war. On the 6th No-
vember 62 went over in a body to the enemy, and
from among these men, it is suspected, a shot was
fired which has deprived the country of a brave and
zealous officer, Colonel Fordyce, of the 74th. He
expired within a few moments after receiving the
shot—his last words were, " Oh, my poor regiment?'
In this fight Lieut. Carey, of the 74th, Lieut.
Gordon, 74th, Lieut. Ricketts, 94th, and Lieut. De-
venish, of the Beaufort Levy, also fell, or were so
severely wounded as to speedily result in death.
The Governor, Sir Harry Smith, was at King
William's Town, suffering from ill health, the effect,
it is said, of the harassing nature of his duties.
Port Elizabeth had suffered from a fearful storm.
A great deal of damage had been sustained.
The Harbinger has made altogether for her first
trip a most satisfactory passage. In the run home
she (lid the distance from the Cape to St. Vincent's in
nineteen days and six hours, occupying less time than
any previous vessel. From St. Vincent's she encoun-
tered strong N.E. winds and heavy seas until within a
day's sail of Plymouth, when with a S.W. wind she
averaged for 24 successive hours a speed of 11 knots
an hour, and in the course of that time attained a
maximum speed of 13 knots.
At St. Vincent's the Harbinger saw the Royal
Mail Company's steamer Severn. She arrived on the
morning of the 23d December, and sailed the same
evening for the Brazils, all well.
The fever at St. Vincent's was not so fatal as it
had been, but the island was still very sickly. The
Harbinger had very great difficulty in procuring
merchant be found to do the work.
:were in the bay with sick
w many had gone to sea with only the master
and mate and a couple of boys on board.
cfureel;
s Several no;
labourers
vessels could
Commodore Wyvill, in her Majesty's ship Castor,
remained in !Simon's Bay, all well ; her Majesty's
ship Grecian, 12, Commander the Hon. D. Keane,
arrived Nov. 24, from Rio and England; her Majes-
ty's steam-sloop Styx, Commander Hall, had sailed
for Buffalo Mouth, with levies and horses. A store-
ship with provisions from England, was at Simon's
Bay. Her Majesty's screw troop-ship Vulcan, Mas-
ter-Commander Penn, had not arrived at the Cape
with the 43d Regiment. She was left by the
Harbinger at Sierra Leone, on the way out, on the
6th—she was then coaling, and was to sail on the 7th
of November.

(From the Cape Town Mail.)
MONTHLY SUMMARY.
Our summary of last month terminated with an ac-
count of the apparent success of Major-General Somer-
set's operations against the enemy in the Waterkloof.
The large body of Kafirs and Hottentots' who, under
the chief Macomo, occupied that stronghold, had, it was
tes and driven oast-
ward order" of the
,
supposed, been btheeenAdmeafetaorads. atAall,,pgoeinn
Commander-in-Chief announced this successful:result in
glowing and very laudatory terms. Some of the enemy,
however, were supposed to be still lurking in the fast-
nesses from which the main body was believed to have
been driven. For the purpose of expelling these scat-
tered bands, General Somerset, on the Bth ult., moved
his division again upon the position which they were
supposed to occupy. A more determined resistance was
experienced than had been anticipated. The enemy
proved to be in considerable force, and fought with
desperate courage. The treops advanced in three co-
lumns, under General Somerset and Lieutenant-Colonels
Fordyce, of the 7th, and Michel, of the 6th Regiment.
Colonel Fordyce's brigade was first engaged. A body
of the enemy was found posted in a very strong posi-
tion, behind the rocks at the head of the Waterkloof
ravine. From this position a deadly fire was opened
upon the troops es they advanced, and with disastrous
effect. Colonel Fordyce and several men of the 74th
Regiment were struck down by the first volley. This
brave and intelligent officer was idolised by the troops
under his command, and bad gained the esteem and con-
fidence of the colonists in a remarkable degree during
his few months of service on the frontier. He died on
the field a few minutes after receiving the wound, his
last words being, " Take care of my regiment." The
enemy was afterwards partially driven from his position;
but, unfortunately, not without several more casualties
among the troops. Lieutenant Carey, of the 74th, two
sergeants, and two rank and file, were killed, and Lieut.
Gordon (since dead), and eight men (all of the 74th
Regiment) wounded.
On the following day the operations were resumed,
and the enemy was driven from various positions in the
ravines and dense forests, with considerable loss. On
our side, one officer, Captain Devenieb, of the Beaufort
West Levy, was mortally wounded; three men of the
91st, and tour of the levies, were also wounded. On the
Bth, the weather proving extremely inclement, Major
General Somerset withdrew his troops to the camp in
the Blinkwater, where he has since remained. It is
understood that no further movements against the enemy
in that quarter are contemplated at present. Lieutenant-
Colonel Michel'a brigade has since returned to head-
quarters. The detachment of the 73d, which, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, had been for several weeks
very actively and efficiently employed in protecting the
Albany frontier from the incursions of the enemy, has
also been withdrawn to head-quarters, its
supplied by the 12th R • Li t -Colonel
Regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel
Percival.
This concentration of troops at King William's Town
has been made for the purpose of dispatching a large
force across the Kei, into the territory of Kreli, the place being
pa-
ramount chief of Kafirland, who is supposed to have in
his keeping a great number of the cattle that have been
the
a colony.
herd Torhoeatconducttle, b
slooofgiog to English
d Kreli has been
a and suspicious from the commencement of the
driven
nhastniiirhg and recently
o ua
his country, is said to have been seized by
some of his people. The force which is to enter the
country of this chief will consist of 3,000 men, under
Major-General Somerset and Colonel Mackinnon. The
operations, it is said, will occupy a month. The pro-
priety of undertaking such a movement, while the fron-
tier districts are in their present condition, is questioned
by persons resident in that part of the colony.
The frontier burghers, who had been summoned by
their commandants to meet at Post Retief, on the 30th
ult., for a general movement ageinst the enemy, were
assembling in considerable numbers a week before the
appointed day.
Marauding parties continue to infest the frontier dis-
tricts, and to commit depredations on the few remaining
flocks land herds of the farmers. Several skirmishes
have taken place between these
the
parties of the colonists, with some loss of life on both
sides—the enemy, however, suffering
still
plunderersmost
severely,
rs
eml y
The a
Sovereignty, at the last accounts
(Nov. 17),in a very unsettled state. Open
had: not been re-oommenced. Mo-
shesh, the Basuto chief,
Orange
however, River
, continued to express a desire for
peace. The majority of the emigrant Boers beyond the
Vaal River were also believed to' be well disposed,
though a few of them were reported to be inclined for
hostilities. It is hoped that the assistant commissioners,
hostilities, was
Major Rogge and Mr. Owen, who started from King
William's Town for the sover • eignty about three weeks
ago, will be able to effect a satisfactory settlement of
the affairs of that province.
The disturbances in the interior have had the effect of
greatly diminishing the inland trade of Natal. That
colony has of late suffered considerably from commer-
cial depression; but the internal tranquillity of the set-
tlement has not been disturbed.
The Legislative Council has been
in session during
the month. A Bill, praposed by the Secretary to Go-
vernment, for the removal of squatters," or unautho-
rised occupiers, from Government land, has been under
discussion, and has excited much comment. Many per-
sons, including the Attorn c,.
ey-
-Qum', and some expe-
rienced missionaries, are of opinion that the measure is
ill-advised, and likely to have a dangerous effect at the
present time, inasmuch as most of the
the coloured persons to whom
it would apply are of class, many of whom
might be exasperated and driven to rebellion. The Bill
is still under consideration. A stringent ordinance for
regulating the sale of gunpowder and firearms has been
passed. A Bill to sanction the borrowing of 40,0001.,
on the security of the colonial reven
, ne, for the improve-
ment of the prisons of the molly, has also been dis-
cussed, and its second reading postponed till after the
passing of the estimates for 1852. The estimates for
1860 and 1851 (which, owing to the political embarrass-
ments, had not before been sanctioned) have been passed
by one Act, Without discussion—moat of the sums thus
appropriated having been already expended. On the
motion of the Secretary of Government, a resolution
authorising the harbour board to borrow the sum of
50,000/. for the construction of a sea wall and other im•
provements in Table Bay has also been passed.
The draft ordinances, embodying the new colonial
constitution, arrived by the Propontis on the 31st of
October. They were subsequently forwarded to King
William's Town for the Governor's perusal, and when
returned by him were published, on the 27th of Novem-
ber, in the Government Gem:eft& On the 28th ult. they
were read a first time in council, and their second read-
ing was postponed for two months. The constitution
embodied in these ordinances had given great satisfac-
tion to the colonists, and this uncalled-for and unex-
pected postponement has caused extreme indignation.
The Cape Town municipality. before this postponement
was known, unanimously resolved:—" That an address
or petition be presented to her Majesty the Queen, ex-
pressing the grateful acknowledgments of the munici-
pality of Cape Town, for the boon which her Majesty
has been pleased to concede to this colony in the liberal
form of government embodied in the draft ordinances,
which they thankfully accept, and pray that it may be
carried into effect without any material alteration in its
leading principles, or any further delay; and which, the
commissioners trust, under the blessing of Divine Pro-
vidence, may be the means of restoring tranquillity
within the territories of this unfortunate colony, besides
being of lasting benefit to the inhabitants at largo."
A public meeting is to be held this day (Dec. 2), at
which it is expected that resolutions of a similar tenor
will be passed. Amog thole who are expeoted to ad-

7 V

dress the meeting in favour of the resolutions are the
four gentlemsm who last year seceded from the Council,
and who then prepared the outline of a constitution not
materially differing from that which has noss been
granted. Two of these gentleman, Sir Andries Stock-
enstrona and Mr. Fairbairn, returned to the colony in
the Harbinger, and were cordially welcomed on landing
by their fellow-colonists. A very largo assemblage took
place in and before the Town Hall on this occasion, and
after the addresses of the delegates had been heard,
" Mr. Haupt proposed, Three cheers for the Queen,
and thanks to her for the noble constitution she has
granted to the Cape of Good Hope,' which (aa the re-
port states) was most heartily responded to by the as-
semblage both within and without the hall." The desire
for the immediate establishment of free institutions
is intense among all classes of the inhabitants, with the
exception of a low persons directly or indirectly con-
nected with the local government.
Rumours of disaffection unsung the coloured classes
in some of the western districts have been rife during
the past month. A Government coromission, appointed
for the purpose, has been able to discover no serious
grounds fur the reports, which, however, had caused,
and are still causing, considerable uneasiness. Until a
regular government, enjoying the confidence of the in-
babitant3, is established, the colony must remain in a
painful state of uncertainty and disorganization.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
GRAHAM'S TOWN, Nov. 25.
Letters received yesterday by the Kafirland post re-
ported everything to be quiet at King William's Town
and in the vicinity. Colonel Eyre was daily expected
there with the troops under his command. Mr. Conway
had had an interview with the Governor, having brought
some message from Kreli, and was immediately to start
off back again. The purport of his communications he
was not allowed to make public. Letters from beyond
the Koi report matters there to be in a very unsatisfac-
tory and unsettled state. The Amagcaleki seem quite
ripe for mischief'. A party of Kafirs and Tambookies,
united, had swept off all the Butterworth cattle. These
cattle had been removed from the Mission Station a
short time before by Krelfs orders, professedly for
greater security. At the time one of the letters alluded
to was written a party of Kafirs were lying in a drift,
waiting for a train of five waggons belonging to the
trader Jeffries, which they intendad to attack and
plunder. They had also, it seems, made up their minds
to obtain possession of all the Fingoes' cattle in their
country.

It was reported that a strong combined force of Tam-
bookies and Kafirs was about to make another vigorous
attack upon Whittlesea and Shiloh. Probably the in-
tended movement of the troops, if carried out and in time,
will divert them from their purpose by finding them suffi-
cient employment in other quarters. Designing and in-
triguing parties have been endeavouring, by circulating
various reports to the prejudice of the Government and
the colony, to alarm and disturb the Faku and his people.
We are glad to learn they have entirely failed in their
object, and that he and his people are quiet and satisfied.
::An express extraordinary arrived here from the
Governor yesterday, and returned to King William's
Town shortly afterwards. The subject of it is not pub-
licly known.
We learn this morning from a private source that con-
siderable numbers of burghers are assembling in the
neighbourhood of Post Relief and Whittlesea.

LATEST FROM HEAD-QUARTERS.
(From the Graham's 7-own Journal, Nov. 25.)
The intended movement referred to in our last issue
we now learn is to be across the Kei, for the purpose of
retaking some of the colonial cattle which have been
driven thither by the marauders from time to time dur-
ing the present contest. The force will consist of 3,000
men under Major-General Somerset, Lieutenant-Colonel
Mackinnon having a brigade under that officer. It is
expected that the contemplated operations will occupy a
month.

(From the Frontier Times, Nov. 25.).

News of the expedition which is about to be under-
taken across the Kei is known all over Kafirland, and
Pato's Kafirs, it seems, are dunning those in charge of
the waggon convoys for arrears of " milk money, alleg-
ing that the waggons are now going away." We have
reason to believe that public matters are almost as pre-
carious in the Slambie country as they were soon after
the first breaking out of hostilities. British authority
is, perhaps, even more despised amongst the so-called
friendly tribes than ever. Sandilli is still undisturbed
in the fastnesses of the Amatola—Macomo is still en-
trenched in the Weterkloof, from which his forces have
been expelled—the rebel camp at the Fish River has
has not been broken up. The whole frontier is exposed
to the ravages of the enemy, who with their murderous
bands are still within its limits.

TRIBES BEYOND THE KEI.
(From the _Graham's Town Journal.)
The news beyond the Kei indicates great restlessness
amongst the tribes in those parts—more especially the
Amagcaleka under Krell, and a portion of the Abatembu.
It appears that some time ago Kreli recommended the
traders and Fingoes at Butterworth to send their cattle
beyond the Bashee river for security. Mr. Jeffries ac-
cordingly sent 120 oxen to that part of the country, and
many of the people followed this example, although the
missionary considered the experiment to be hazardous,
and expressed his fears to the people as to the result of
sending their cattle so far from home. On th© 14th
inst. a combined party of Tambookics and Kreli's people
carried off the whole of these cattle. There can be no
doubt of Kreli's bad faith, which must have been fully
known to the Governor some time ago. It is presumed
that he would have been attacked long since, but for the
want of a larger force, and the necessity of employing
the troops nearer the boundary in defence of the colony.
As. however, a combined movement of troops of the Ist
and 2d divisions is now about to take place in the dircc.
lion of the Kei, it may be hoped that an opportunity will
occur for teaching Kreli, and that part of his tribe
living near the Tsomo, the evil couscquences of war, and
the miseries brought upon themselves by adopting the
counsels and following the fortunes of the hostile chiefs
and tribes.

There had been some further bad feeling excited be-
tween the Fingoes near Morley, and the Tambookies
under the chief Jooi. The Fingoes were clearly to
blame, and acted very treacherously towards Jooi,
whom they attacked when attended by a small party of
the men, one of whom was killed, while the chief him-
self and another man were wounded. This affair, of
course, produced renewed hostility, and the Tambookies
seized a number of the Fingoes' cattle on account of the
insult to the chief. It is not unlikely but that this out-
rage was made the pretext for seizing the Butterworth
cattle beyond the Bashee. However, as Mr. M. B. Shaw
has been again appealed to by the chiefs to arbitrate on
this new cause of quarrel, it is possible he may succeed
in restoring peace, and inducing the Tambookies to give
back the cattle taken on the Fingoes paying a suitable
fine for their treachery and insult to Jooi. At no mo-
ment was it of more importance that those tribes should
be kept quiet than just now, while the troops are likely
to go to the neighbourhood of the Kei. If they can be
kept from quarrelling with each other their cupidity will
make them very troblesome to Kreli's people, should the
latter be brought into collision with the troops, and be
compelled to flee to the Bashee, and beyond, with their
cattle.

The news from Faku's country is down to the 11th
inst. All was perfectly quiet at that date amongst the
Amanpondas, and Faku had just paid a visit, with most
of his leading men, to Mr. Jenkins, the missionary at
Palmerton, to whom he had given the strongest assur-
ances that the reports of intention to aid Sandilli are
false, and that ho has no war with the English, nor ever
wishes to have. He said, "My country is in peace, and
I hope it will continue so."

GENERAL SOMERSET'S DIVISION.
(From the Frontier Times, Nov. 25.)
" BLINKWATER, NOT. 19, 1851.—The sad
gloom thrown over everything here by the death of the
ranch lamented Fordyce, appears but slowly to pass
away, indeed, the general feeling seems to be, " who
will be next?' Many openly declare that they will go
there no more to be butchered like cattle. It is a
fearful sacrifice of human life to send men as brave as
ever shouldered a firelock, to such a place, with such an
enemy to contend against. Courage here is of no avail,
discipline and steadiness under fire only render the men
better targets for the lurking savages. However, it is
generally reported we shall make a forward movement
to the Kei, whoa we hope to have open work of it,
and get a little good meat, which is quite out of the
question at this place.
" The Kafirs are daily stealing cattle from here and
Fort Beaufort, and generally succeed in getting off with
them. Yesterday they stole about fifty or sixty of the
Commissariat oxen; but by timely notice and the ac-
tivity of a party of Cape Mounted Rifles and Fort
Elizabeth Fingoes, the greater part were retaken, and
three of the enemy shot—ono serjeant was wounded on
our side. It is evident from the night fires, that the
enemy is very numerous still in Fuller's Hoek and
Waterkloof, and indeed in the whole of these parts.
Their being here is a tax on the neighbourhood, for as
they have no cattle now, they live upon us.
Since the above was received we have intelligEno
from the camp to the 24th inst., from which it appears
that a waggon with supplies belonging to Capt. Bruce'
74th, and guarded by a detachment of that regiment,
under Lieutenant King, was attacked by the
enemy ?
pillaged on Saturday, and the oxen stolen. Tkeosparty
were proceeding up the Blinkwater hill toward Plow i
tief. The empty waggon was recovered the following
as numerous
morning. The enemy are now known to be
in the Waterkloof as ever.!

A correspondent at Fort Beaufort writes :
-
Nov. 15.
" Information has just been brought in from the Major..
General's camp that the Kafirs cut a span of oxen loose
party of
from one of the waggons in the General's camp last night.
Two Kafirs w ere also shot near Beaufort by a
other liafir,
Fingoes, who were out patrolling; the gun of Ono f-
Kafirs who was shot was brought in, and the
gun, fell into the river ,0 the
with a double-barrelled
shot. A party of Fingoes has just started as
lin
was
to search for
the gun in the river. The
above span of oxen which
was taken from the General's camp was
out of his own baggage waggon'
actually taken
" 18.—Information has just been brought ;
Kafirs taking eight spans of oxen at if) brought again of the
from the herds; the enemy. were soon rtuiwater camp
tho oxen recovered, with the exceptionovertaken, and
which the Kafirs got safo off with; four of eighteen,
wounded, one of whom has since died Fingoos were
oxen taken were thirteen of Mr. Prior of his wound. The
Valleutine. Last night the Kafi and five of Mr'
sentries and fired at them, but didrs crept up close to the
" Nov. 19.—Messr?. Knott. havenot hurt any.
their sheep and horses, and it been robbed of all
cattle will be swept al,ey next. is expected that all the
It was well known that
failure in getting the enemy
f. out of Waterkloof would
lead themowwith9ut the
vw There is scarcely a day
p
ell Y getting Clittlf frQW QUeria

r
0) ..0•1 u

t

Somerset's estop; they stole g span the other night, not
ten yards from the General's tent; if he remain here
much longer, you may perhaps hear of his being walked
off with."

FORT BEAUFORT.
A general Court-martial at Fort Beaufort (Colonel
Percival, 12th, president) has just condemned Colonel
Caspar Sneyman, Eat River Levy, to be transported as
a felon for seven years for spreading false reports in the
camp at Riet Fontein when in the vicinity of the enemy,
tending to create distrust and alarm amongst that levy,
and to turn them from their allegiance. Private Her-
manna Platjes, of the same levy, has by the same court
been condemned to imprisonment. with hard labour, for
180 days, for having, at Eland's Post, either lost through
neglect, or designedly made away with, three Govern-
ment packages of ball cartridge, containing about thirty
rounds. The same Court has acquitted private Boy
Whiteboy (same corps), on a charge of having deserted
" towards the enemy" from the levy at Riot Fontein,
with his arms and ammunition, and not returning until
brought back a prisoner. The Court have also acquit-
ted private Jager Floris, C.M.R., on a charge, Ist, of
intentionally occasioning false alarm amongst the Kat
River Levy at Riet Fontein, and when in the vicinity of
the enemy using LEguage calculated to spread false
alarm amongst the native forces in the field nnd turning
them from their allegiance; and, 2, on a charge of not
having directly given notice to Major-General Somerset
or any other officer of the existence of sedition amongst
Kat River Levy at Met Fontein, being aware of the
existence of such sedition. These sentences have been
confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief. Caspar Sney•
man is to be handed over to the civil authorities. Mr.
A. F. Broughton, Madras Infantry, has been appointed
Lieutenant in Montagu's Horse.

From Somerset, Nov. 17,ERSET we have accounts of a terrific
storm of thunder and lightning that lately fell upon that
place. The electric fluid struck Mr. Massyn's house,
doing it considerable damage, and we regret to add,
striking to the earth two of this gentleman's daughters, i
one of whom we hear s much hurt. Several rebel Hot-
tentots have been lately shot in that neighbourhood.
We understand that the enemy are almost daily com-
mitting depredations in Zwagers Hoek

ORANGE RIVER SOVEREIGNTY.
Tho following extracts from the. Friend of the Sove-
reignty, of Nov. 17, will show the unsettled state of
affairs in that quarter. The arrival cf the assistant
commissioners (who must by this time have reached
Bloom Fontein) was then awaited with great anxiety:—
" We learn that two companies of the 45th Regiment,
which came from Natal, are to be this day dispatched to
escort Moroko and his people to Thaba 'Nchu. Lieut.
Singea, R.A., with two guns accompanies them.

" PACIFIC DISPOSITION OP Ns OSHESH.

"We have seen a communication from the Basuto
country, dated the 11th instant, from which we glean the
following information:—
"' The chief Moshesh seems to continue in the same
disposition he has shown for some time past, and the
prospect of a speedy, and fair, patient investigation; may
now tend to give hopes to his people; hitherto they have
been under the impression that their doom was sealed,
and their ruin decided upon by the government, an im-
pression which their missionaries have done their best
to remove, and it is therefore no easy matter to restore
confidence in our government.'

"It appears that Commandant Thomson, of the
Zoolu corps, has been the bearer of two or three letters
to and from the British resident at Moshesh. Moshesh's
first letter complained of an attack made upon his people
by the Government allies near Platberg. The Resident
replied that the complaint would be forwarded to his
Excellency the High Commissioner. He also promised
Moshesh that troops should not cross the Caledon, if
Moshesh would promise that his people should not make
an aggressive movement beyond the Caledon. Moshesh
answered that the resident must be aware that very many
of his people live beyond the Caledon, and that he could
make no promise; for they might be again attacked
as at Platberg. It will be clearly seen that Moshesh
was puzzled by the resident saying that the troops
should not cross the Caledon. Did he mean that a
movement of troops on the other side was in contempla-
tion? The last reply of the resident is to the effect that
ho will forward Moshesh's letter to the High Commis-
sioner, and that Major Hogge and Mr. Owen are ex-
pected, and that they will arrange all disputes. It is
said that Van der Kolf has bid farewell to these parts,
and also several bastards who have been doing mischief
near the Caledon River are making their exit.',