The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-04 00:00:00

THE KAFIR WAR.

We have received papers from the Cape of Good Hope
to the SO of February.
The intelligence contained in them from the seat of
war on the eastern frontier comes down to the Ist of
February . In that part of the colony matters remained
much in the same state as that described in the last ad-
vices.
General orders had been received at Graham's Town
from head-quarters at King William's Town, of the 28th
and 29th January, nominating the officers of the Gene-
dendal levy, 360 strong, and of the Cape Town and Al-
bany levies. Orders had also been issued for a column
of 2,200 men under Colonel Mackinnon, to move on
Forts White and Cox the next day (30th January)—the
main object being to throw supplies into those forts.
From Fort Peddie the following notice appears in the
same paper, under date the 30th of January:—
Captain Davies marched from here on Sunday with his
men, about four hundred in number, leaving all their wag-
gons behind. He took the route by Wesleyville, thus avoid-
ing Line Drift, where it is understood Seyolo remains in
position in great force."
Letters from Graaf Beinet of the 31st of January
describe the state of the districts of Cradock and So-
merset as very alarming, the Kafir population having
made common cause with the tribes more to the east,
while at the same time great dissatisfaction was exhi-
bited by the Burghers or Dutch settlers in the sur-
rounding districts.
It was, however, expected that the Civil Commis-
sioner would succeed in persuading 300 or 400
Burghers to proceed to the relief of Cradock. The po-
sition of these districts, which lie to the back of the
colony towards the west, renders this insurrection and
disaffection more important.
Public prayers were about to be offered up in Cape
Town for the removal of the affliction under which the
colony was suffering.
The following passages are from the Graham's Town
Journal. Alluding to some proceedings at Fort Peddie,
that paper most properly urges that care should be
taken to secure our possession of the allegiance of the
Fingoes, arid not to risk its loss by inconsiderate treat-
ment:—

" The investigation into the disaffection of the Hottentots
at Theopolis having proceeded so far as to criminate three
of the residents of that institution, they were forwarded to
the prison at Graham's Town, where they were safely lodged
about eleven o'clock this morning. The ringleader, Kieviet
Piqueurs, is one of the number. The prisoners were sent
in a waggon, in charge of the chief constable of Bathurst,
and escorted by twelve coloured men, chiefly Fingoes.
Two others were apprehended by the Field-Commandant
when at Theopolis on the 25th inst., but the evidence against
them not being of a sufficiently conclusive character to
warrant their detention, they were consequently liberated.
Lynx, or Lings as he himself writes it, the writer of the
letter so often alluded to, is also in custody, in separate con-
finement, so that he may not exercise his persuasive powers
over others, to the working of further mischief.
" The chief evidence against the prisoners is founded upon
the oaths of certain Fingoes, who unhesitatingly declare that
in their opinion the Theopolis Hottentots would have joined
the Kafirs had the enemy appeared in that vicinity. One
of the witnesses corroborates the statement made by the
Rev. Mr. Smit, that that gentleman advised the people not
to follow the rebellious course that the Blinkwater Hottentots
had pursued.
"The matter is not yet cleared, as further evidence will
yet be sent in, but as the affair stands at present there is
nothing of a more serious charge against those in custody
than that of
' unlawfully assembling,' Lc., so that Piqueur
and his colleagues stand in the same position as the Kafir pH-
Boners of war.
"The seven Hottentots, whose committal to prison we no-
ticed last week, were liberated to-day, and have set off to
Theopolis to look after their crops. None of them have guns,
and the institution has been rendered se far powerless as that
a small force might at any time inflict a wholesome chas-
tisement upon those who rebel.
"Our intelligence from Fort Peddie is calculated to cause
a good deal of uneasiness, as respects the Fingoes in that
locality—not on account of any actual disaffection on the
thatto
reference,oe ahra .esfoal
carefully
yetendencyssvhobi
Id,
abte
po r a ncthaats
trhe
a-
part of those people—but from some instances of inconside-
rateness towards them on the part of some of the authorities,
subjecto moretphoeimntsee:lvl yet toshspb:
asebgrfiueeeutdrnneeoerftttahoht ereee feelingsjuncture.
necessityuw
blimmensei
ecpublic.
imwT trust
ohh fei
thatchbi,rn
oiwnrsegtf cannottipneregdt
thdhiiees
flgooefs have sent 300 of their number to the front, indepen-
dent
ofe
defence
dangerb et o
which, those who remain are in a position not merely
swpaencttsotfhtehcaotleoonnys.
not weakened by injudicious treatment, or by any
iderTahtieonp uwblhicieshhoisulodf losook
much
h. it, that
fpreoomple.Fort Armstrong,to i ,
in
"Newsa il our dheaasli
jnogsstweiotmh
ethiense
bs
rebels have got poszession of the buildings, except the
Tower—to which place all the loyal people have fled for
Thompson,
refuge. These are hemmed in, and derided'le h
&c., that they will have permission to depart bugefnhtlee-
men below, who have signified to the Rev. Mr.y the
sincerity is doubtful, and they have consequently'rpeomrttaisna3e.dis
Their sufferings must have been very great, and re
that they have been without provisions during the last three
days. Measures are in train by the good people of Fort
Beaufort, assisted by the Fingoes, to effect their deliverance
this night, and may Heaven smile upon their efforts!

"Further accounts from Fort Hare, dated yesterday, state
that the resident magistrate of Kat River, Mr. Wienand,
arrived there on the 29th ult., escorted by a loyal party of
Hottentots, among whom were ;the Field-Comets Peffer
and Botha. This officer escaped with no other property
than the clothes on his person. The rebel Hottentots,
under a man named Ilithaalder, gave Mr. W. safe conduct
through the country in their possession. The party took the
road to Fort Beaufort, in prefence to proceeding to Fort
Hare—to which place Mr. Wienand was subsequently es-
corted by Commandant Bovey with some men under his
orders. So exasperated are the Fingoes at the atrocities of
the Hottentot rebels, that Col. Sutton deemed it necessary
to give an escort to the party who came in with the magis-
trate in order to save them from the vengeance of these
people. It is said that many of the Hottentots have ex-
pressed a wish to return to their allegiance, and that Colonel
Sutton has given them a few days to present themselves in
Beaufort and deliver up their arms.
" It is further said, that Jan Hermanus, eldest son of the
late rebel Chief, has requested to be permitted to come in,
but whether the request has been complied with or not is
not known. A rumour is also afloat, that the forty Hot-
tentots who, after being stripped of their booty and dis-
armed, were permitted by Mr. Dodds Pringle to go at large,
fell subsequently into the hands of the Fingoes and were
destroyed. This report, however, requires confirmation—
while, even if the catastrophe be true, the circumstances
which led to it are totally unknown. It is stated, on what
is considered good authority, that the Hottentots are very
short of ammunition, and it is supposed that 500 mounted
Burgher, would, in a few days, disperse or destroy the whole
of the rebel bands, who are, however, in the mean time roam-
ing about unmolested, feasting in the dwellings of the
farmers, and laying waste the country. The missionary
Niven is still at Fort Armstrong, which post is now occupied
by the rebels, who have, it would appear, not treated him
with any violence."
GRAAFF-REINET.
Graaff-Reinet, Jan. 31.
I herewith send you a most painful letter we received last
night from Cradock, appealing to the inhabitants here for
assistance. We are daily receiving dispatches land reports
from Cradock and Somerset, which latter place is in great
danger. They are fearful of an attack upon their town. The
respectable and loyal inhabitants here are now making
active preparations to proceed to Somerset. I have no doubt
some will go on to Cradock, although the greatest danger is
apprehended at the former place. There will I have no doubt
be 300 men to their assistance ere you receive this. The
Kafirs of the place have been mustered, and forwarded on
to Kafirland via Cradock, under an escort from this place;
they however endeavoured to escape the vigilance of the men
who were sent out with them. An order was afterwards sent
out to recal them, when one-third of the number came back
leaving the others to escape. I believe there were 130 in the
whole, men, women, and children, that left here. The wo..
men commenced the attack, by throwing their petticoats and
blankets over the heads of the watch, and commenced striking
them with sticks,l stones, &c. The Kafirs who escaped ob-
tained possession of two of the guns belonging to the
watch. However, one of the Kafirs who was attached to
the waggons was accidentally wounded, but not severely.
Strange to say, from the account of the men who formed the
escort, their guns would not go off when they attempted to
fire. The few Kafirs who were allowed to remain have all
since left the town, including a Kafir named Buoy, who was
in the service of the Southeys for 15 years; he has two wag-
gons and a good number of oxen, and is in good circum-
stances. The people here are much alarmed. You will
please insert within the columns of your valuable 'ournal the
enclosed letter from Cradock _ _

" Cradock, January 29, IESI.
" Gentlemen,—On behalf of the Board of Safety of this
town, acting fur and on behalf of the inhabitants of this
town, I am desired to address you to implore your assist-
ance now that the time of our extreme peril is at hand.
Last week we dispatched letters to the Board of Safety of
Graaff-Reinet, to the Civil Commissioner, and also the
Rev. Mr. Murray, stating the peril in which we were then
placed, and entreating by all the motives of humanity and
fellow feeling that volunteers would come to our assistance,
from your district, to save us from destruction. Te the
statements then made we have now to add that information
has just reached us that Shiloh is in the hands of the
enemy—that Whittlesea has been attacked and is now
surrounded by thousands of Kafirs— that nearly the whole,
if not the whole, of the Kat River Hottentots have joined
the confederation against us, and that we are daily expect-
ing an attack on this place, which we are by no means able

to protect.
" We have deputed our excellent friend, J.Van Dyk, Esq.,
to proceed to Graaff-Reinet, to intreat the inhabitants not to
abandon us, our wives, and children, to the frightful cala-
mity which is now so near. We have no hope of saving our
property. We want only to save our lives from the savage
enemy ; and our wives and children from what might be more
dreadful even than death itself.
" We might remind you, that if we are destroyed, you
will in a few days see the enemy at your own doors, but we
do not wish to dwell on such a possibility. We would rather
ground our entreaty on your best feelings, as men, and
Christians, to come and help us.
" We need not say more; Mr. Van Dyk will explain our
whole situation. For God's sake, do not delay; a few days
more it may be too late. Timely assistance may save some
hundreds of the families of your countrymen from destruc-
tion by the enemy.—l am, on behalf of the Board,
" G. H. GRE3N, Wesleyan Minister.
" To the Inhabitats of Graaff-Reinet."

The following public notice has been issued by the
Civil Commissioner of Gratiff-Reinet:--
" The Civil Commissioner having given himself a great
deal of trouble to get the burghers to proceed to the border
in defence of the colony and their fellow-colonists, and
having been informed that, notwithstanding all that has
b-en done, the majority of them are still unwilling, and that
some object to the ballot that has taken place. preferring to
be ordered out by their field-cornet, according to his list.
He has come to the resslution to cancel the ballot, and
without having recourse to any measure of compulsion once
more to appeal to the good sense and Christian feeling of the
inhabitants.
" He trusts that no further time will be lost, but that all
the men that can be spared from here will voluntarily come
forward and make themselves ready to start in a body on
Thursday, 6th February next, by which time the Civil
Commissioner is sanguine they will have been joined by their
friends from the country, to whom this appeal will be made
known by the different field-cornets.
" The Civil Commissioner is prepared to render every as-
sistance in mounting and equipping those who may not have
the means of doing so themselves. He would request each
man who may be so situate to procure for himself a good ser-
viceable horse, saddle, bridle, and gun, at reasonable rates,
for which, when produced to him and approved of; payment
will be made, and to such as find their own horses and
equipments, the t,ivil Commissioner will, if required, grant a
receipt for whatever has been furnished, specifying the value
of the same.
" The Civil Com missioner trusts that none will be found,
who, possessing a horse or any of these articles would yet
call upon Government for the same, as the difficulty of pro-
curing them at present would only cause unnecessary delay.
" He knows that there are many in affluent circum-
stances, who, as they may not be able to proceed themselves,
can procure others in their stead, finding them in every-
thing needful.
" Ammunition will of course be provided and rations fur-
nished. Rations will also be supplied during the absence of
the men to their families who stand in need thereof.
"'[he Civil Commissioner would impress on the inhabi-
tants the absolute necessity of their responding to the call
now made upon them, sensible as they must now be of the
danger which threatens the colony. lie cannot refrain froth
quoting the following passages of a letter, addressed to him
by a gentleman possessing the most ample sources of infor-
mation :
" The colony is now threatened with a more formidable
and destructive combination than has ever been known before
in this country.
" The Kafirs are using very great efforts to induce all
native people to sit still or join against us.
"The Kafirs have resolved to exterminate the white man.
Although they will not succeed in this, they will certainly
inflict an irreparable calamity upon e colony if white
men will not at once lay aside all disputes and unitedly meet
the enemy.
" The Governor is now firmly resolved to crush t cut power
of the enemy; but to do this the colony must unite and put
forth a strong effort.
" It is of vital importance that the colonists fully under-
stand their real position. If they come forward the work
will soon be done, and that effectually, by the blessing of
God. Never was there a moment in the history of the
colony when delay was so fraught with danger. Division
among colonists now, or even a few days' delay, may bring
upon a great portion of the colony unheard-of calamities.
" I trust that the colonists will be roused to a full sense of
their danger—a danger which, under God, they are fully able
to meet, if they will but determine to do it.
" W. C. Vow RYstkvELn, Civil Commissioner."

The incumbency of Frimley, which was rendered
vacant by the death of the Rev. George Edward Holiest,
111. A.., has been conferred on the Rev. Frederick Wickham,
M.A., Second Master of Winchester College.
THE STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE OF LIVERPOOL.—
We regret to state that our stipendiary magistrate, Edward
Rushton, Esq., is at present so seriously ill that his recovery
is a matter of doubt. His complaint is erysipelas. The
answer to inquiries on Thursday was, that he was not better.
BEETHOVEN QUARTET SOCIETY.—The first per-
formance of the present season took place on Wednesday
evening, the quartets selected for the occasion being No. 5
of Op. 18 in A, No. 10 Op. 74 in E gat, and No. 13 Op. 130
in B fiat, the last being one of the posthumous quartets, or
so called. The performers were Herr Ernst, Mr. H. C. Cooper,
Mr. Hill, and M. Rousselot, the principal director of the so-
ciety. Herr Ernst, who assumed the principal violin, was
very unequal in his playing, being frequently at fault in his
intonation and not always adhering to his text, though we
are bound to say that he elicited many of the mere recondite
beauties of the wonderful composer with great effect. It is
to be regretted that so great a player as Mr. Cooper should
always be set down to the subordinate violin. His mechan-
ism is always faultless, and as an executant he is undoubt-
edly very far superior to Herr Ernst, notwithstanding his
great reputation. We are convinced that M. Rousselot
would find it greatly to the advantage of the society if he
would occasionally place Mr. Cooper at the first violin. The
subscribers generally would be pleased with the change, and
they would not be slow to appreciate his extraordinary
talent. It is unnecessary to state that Mr. Hill and M.
RousAelot were perfect in their respective instruments, and
executed their several solos with great accuracy and finish.
THE BOILER EXPLOSION AT MANCHESTER.--The
adjourned inquest on view of the bodies of the nine persons
killed by the explosion of the boiler in the steam saw-mills
of Mr. Williamson, in Hanover-street, Manchester, was re-
sumed yesterday. Egerton, the engineer, was in attendance,
in custody. A considerable amount of testimony relating to
circumstances immediately preceding and following the ex-
plosion was given, but eventually the inquiry was again ad-
joarned. Mr. Fairburn, the eminent engineer, was in at-
tendance, and will be examined.

TSB STOCKPORT BOILER EMPLOSION.—The inquest
was proceeding when our account left Stockport yesterday,
and was not concluded until a late hour in the evening.
Some very singular evidence was tendered, rendering the
circumstances connected with the cause of the terrible disas-
ter more mysterious than before. Two of the bleachers swear
positively that their kiers were well supplied with steam up
to the moment of the explosion from the high-pressure
boiler, while the junction valve between that boiler and their
kiers was found in the ruins so tightly closed that no steam
could have passed in. After hearing some additional evi-
dence, the proceedings were adjourned to Monday next, when
it is expected the important evidence of Professor Hodgkin-
son and Mr. Lillie will be given. The general impression is
that they will condemn the shape of the boiler, and its want
of stays beneath the fireplace.
TEE BRIXTON MURDER.—PLYMOUTII, APRIL 2.
Al the re-examination of the prisoner, Willi= Rowe, befero
the county magistrates at Kidgeway (Plymouth) this day,
he was fully committed to take his trial at the next assuies
for the wilful murder of John Bunker. a servant buy in ale
employ of the prisoner's father. Great excitement continues
throughout the district, and the committal of the prisoner
was to the evident satisfaction of the crowded court.