The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-10 00:00:00

THE KAFIR WAR.
PLYMOUTLI, FRIDAY, MAY 9.—The Guncral Steam
s'rew, Navigation Company's packet Hellespont, Captain
Watts, arrived at six if.leck. this 'wining. She left the
Cat* at noon ea April 4, Sierra L !one the 20th, and
Cape de Venda on the 25 h, and has, thsri:fori-s, a2ooni-
plished the paassge in rather less than thirty-five days.
The intelligence by her makes very little alteration in
this comiLion of affairs is the Caps Colony since the
last date 3.
Sir 11-irry Smith, with about 2,200 troops o all surs,
was at King William's Town. Havint,- been rippris;-.d of
the intention of the Kafirs to assault Fort Hare with the
intention ut rescuing the Hottentot prisoners, he antici-
pated their attack by moving ugainst theta. Upwards
of 100 were, killed, many wounded, and a large number
of cattle captured. Ca the part of the British forces
only a few rank and the were killed and %rounded.
Colonel Mackinnon's patrol from King
Town had made a raid ou the Kafirs, destroyed several
of their kraals, and, by the aid of the Fingoes, taken a
quantity of stock.
Sir Harry Smith, having since the desertion of the
Cape Mounted Rifles threatened to act only on the. de-
fensive unless assisted by the colonists, has at length in-
duced a number of the frontier farmers to join him.
They, however, contend that unless the Kaars all along
the frontier districts are exterminated no sezurity for

life or property can be expected.
In consequence of 46 armed Cape Mounted Rifics
having connected themselves with the disaffe3ted Hot-
tentots at Blinkwater, about one half of that body have
been disarmed, and 200 of their horses are now appro-
priated to the me of the levies from the western district.
Three or four of the deserters from the Rifle corps have
been shot.

The Fingoes continue faithful, but the band of Her-
menus, now led by his son, refuse to surrender to Ge-
neral Somerset. They hang about Blinkriater, and as-
sisted the Kaars in their abortive attempts to rescue the
Hottentot prisoners.
Sandili, with the prophet Umlangeni, was taFO iu
t he fastnesses of the Anetolas.
Leyola, the T'Slambie chief, who took up a strong po-
sition on the llehe Neck, interrupting communications
between King William's Town and Graham's Town,
decamped on the appearance of a strong patrol sent to
OXpal him.
There has been no open demonstration at Cape Town
either favourable or otherwise to the Governor-General,
bat the feeling of the inhabitants is for the adoption of
some determined course to prevent the protraction of the

war.
We take the following from the Monthly Despatch of
the 3d ult.:—
" In our last issue of the 6th of March we gave all the in-
telligence which had reached Cape Town from the frontier
up to that date—the latest being the successful attack upon
the rebel Hottentots and Kafirs at Fort Armstrong by the
Burghers and the force under General Somerset on the 22d
of February ; at that time Sir H. G. Smith, with Colonel
Mackinnon, was at King William's Town, and General
Somerset's head-quarters were at Fort Ilare. In our post-
script we also mentioned the suspicions which had been
excited by the supposed desertion of a number of Pato's
Katirs from Albany, taking with them a large herd of cattle
belonging to Mr. Cockcroft, one of their employers. That
chief's ignorance of the circumstance is strenuously asserted
by him; had it been otherwise, and the desertion been
general, this occurrence would have been ominous of further
mischief.
" In Kafraria, the first operation we have to record is the
march of a strong patrol on the 25th of February, under
Colonels Mackinnon and Eyre ; which was so far successful
as to capture, with the assistance of the Fingoes at Fort
Peddie, 1,635 head of cattle, and to devastate the country ;
but no other result 'appears to have been the consequence of
this march, and the troops returned in two divisions—that
under Colonel Erre by way of Fort White and King William's
Town on the 28th, the other under Colonel Mackinnon first
proceeded to Line Drift.
" On the sth of March Colonel Mackinnon marched with
2,500 men and two guns to throw supplies into Forts White
and Cox ; ou his return from the latter place, on the 6th, the
Kafirs made an attempt to cut off the mule waggons, which
the colonel's able arrangements entirely frustrated, and en-
abled him to inflict a loss upon them of 100 killed and many
wounded ; only two of the Hottentot levy were killed and
two wounded.
" On the 13th another of those unexpected and mysterious
occurrences happened at King William's Town, which de-
monstrate most emphatically the extreme difficulty of
dealing with the coloured population of the colony, and of
their systematic and deplorable faithlessness : this was the
desertion of 70 Hottentots, 46 of them belonging to the Cape
Mounted Rifles, including three sergeants. This corps has
hitherto been distinguished for its a and loyalty, and the
necessity fcr disarming the remainder stationed there, which
was done on the following day, besides the party at East
London, is a misfortune not easily repaired. The horses and
arms of 100 were transferred to a selected number of men
belonging to the western levies. What makes the circum-
stance more remarkable is, that some of them had been long
in the force, and were considered decidedly steady, religious
men; still more inexplicable is the fact that that portion of
this force stationed at Fort Hare, though nearer their Kat
River confederates, profess continued and stedfast loyalty
to the Government, and are confided in by General Somerset,
who mustered them ou the 19th of March, and addressed
them respecting the defection of their companions in arms at
King William's Town, when they unanimously declared that
they would light till the last with their veteran leader.
" On the 18th Sir 11. Smith, in censcquence of information
received by hint of a contemplated attack on Fort Hare
during the absence of General Somerset, marched there from
King William's Town; some skirmishing occurred with the
Kafirs on his route, which resulted in their loss of 40 or ZO,
among whom were three of the deserters from the Cape
Mounted Rifles. Only one man was wounded on our side.
" These repeated marches and countermarches have led
to no practical result bearing upon the fate of the campaign;
they have, however, tended to make soldiers of the raw wes-
tern levies, who were on their arrival undisciplined and un-
accustomed to act in concert; but, on the other hand, they
have excited surprise and distrust among that portion of the
coloured population whose continued fidelity is of the greatest
importance at the present critical period. It would be far
cheaper to bring troops from the Mauritius or St. Helena,
and to have reinforcements from England at once, than to
prolong the war for an indefinite period by endeavouring to
crush the rebellion with the troops on the spot, who are too
few to effect anything of consequence, entailing an ultimately
ruinous expense, as many more will have to be brought
.be-
fore there can be a semblance of security on the frontier.
Moreover, it should be remembered that the Hottentots can-
not be kept in the field for ever, and that the time for which
they were first enlisted has already half expired.
" The defection of the Cape Mounted Riflemen greatly en-
couraged the Kafirs, who assumed an insolent tone, and
even attacked some men with a waggon within two miles
of King William's Town ; two of the Englishmen accom-
panying it were severely wounded, and the party had some
difficulty in reaching that place.
" With respect to events within that colony it was confi-
dently hoped that the capture and dispersion of the Fort
Armstrong traitors would have had a most salutary effect
upon the tribes in arms against the colonists; but the tem-
porary reoccupation of the Kat River districts by rebel
bands,. in consequence of the numerous calls upon the services
of troops and other untoward events, speedily dispelled any
such expectations. The further proceedings of General So-
merset in this district on the 25th and 26th of February,
and the capture of a quantity of booty and a number of
waggons at Philipton Eland's Post, and other places on
the Kat River, will be found in his dispatch published below.
" During the operations against Fort Armstrong, and
upon other occasions, the eagerness of our Fingoe allies to
capture cattle, whether belonging to friends or foes, has
caused their commanders much trouble, while the chaotic
confusion of races, and the diversity of interests among the
frontier inhabitants, render the conducting of the war in a
satisfactory manner one of the most arduous undertakings
possible.
" On the north-east the Tainbookies are kept in check by
the Burghers, but a small party under Commissioner Cole,
of about 140 men, composed of Boers, English, Bastards, and
Hottentots, who advanced from Sterkaspruit against the
Chief Moroise, unsupported, met with a severe reverse, and
the English lost nine of their number, who were killed. The
troops under Major Warden happily came up and saved the
remainder of the party.
" Small parties of Kafirs are in the colony doing much
mischief, but the occupation of Kafraria by the troops und2r
Sir H. G. Smith has no doubt prevented their swarming in
the Addo Bush and their other favourite lurking places in
former wars.
" A public meeting was held at Graham's Town on the
t
19th of March, and resolutions were passed to the effect tha
a memorial should be addressed to his Excellency, pr:Yain.
that he will appoint a judicial commission to aequtirt s into
the causes of the present rebellion among the Hottensoc.
chiefly
coloured inhabitants of the colony. The proceedings Jai
referred to the Kat River affair and the conduct of the mis-
sionaries.
"In the Cape Town Gazette of the 27tohuno
B rghers of
clamation appeared, calling upon tfetlVlaruch a pro-
the western districts, to the nunbetrhoeM
liberal, and from the
the front; the pay and allowances are oto proceed to
I will be promptly
known gallantry and loyalty of the me,z! ho addresses, we
have no doubt that his Excellency's all"
and cheerfully responded to. England in the Maid-
" Sir A. Stockenstront sailed for
stone on the 23d of March.:
full and valuable cargo, con-
The Hellespont s_
had
skies, eight packages contain-
sisting of ivory,
ing specimens of onialluarnal history, 30 packages of sun-
dries, and gold dust value!! at 1,0001. Her passengers
from, Cap Town are—airs. Coleman, children, and
servant; Mr. and Mre. Kuhr, child, and two servants;
Mr. PsieGregor, of the naval department at Simon's Bay;
Mr. W. P. Smith, of the Mixed Commission, Cape
Town; M. and Malmo Feillotte, three children, and
two servants ; and Mr. Richard Sealbrook, of Cape
Town. From Sierra Leone—the Chevalier de
Guillemard de Arragon, Spanish Consul-General
and her Christian Majesty's Judge at Sierra
Leone ; Mr. J. B. Elliott, of the barrack
department at Sierra Leone ; and Captain Staf-
ford and six distressed seamen, lately be-
longing to the brig John Cabot, of Bristol, 158 tong,
condemned as unseaworthy while engaged in a trading'
voyage on the coast of Africa. Mr. who is is
gentleman of colour, has come to England Elliott,On leave of
absence, with a view of making arrangements, through
the Countess of Huntingdon's connexion, for the propa-
gation of the gospel in the interior of Africa.
Just previous to the departure of the Hellespont from
Sierra Leone the commissioners sent by the Governor
to treat with the chiefs of the Nunez and Pon rivers
had succeeded in their negotiations with the go
chiefs of
Nunez, but thole of Potrro tu,d not yet accepted the pro-
positions of the cammislonere. The successful rest.ilt
of this commuxication is likely to be attended with
great advantage to these British merchants who trade
on that part of the coast. 'is Commander
The Admiralty agent in charge of
Robertson, has landed bags from the Cmapaheleo'f.strod Hope,
uadrons at
Sierra Leone, and Cape Verds, and frourticat.
Hitherto the
u..uth by the first
the Cape and on the West Coast of 1.11
ati arrangement
Cape mails have been dispatched from yhiai
train starting after ship's arrival, by. w
they could have been in London o rida afternoon ;rives they
are 110 W detained for the regu mail trai ny , which ar
London on aturdl_Ly.2o,...2lill2,:;_r_______.

•
ADMIS3ION TO WESTMINSTER ABLEI.—In Conse-
quence of the large increase in the nutaber of foreign
visitors arriving daily i
to mpect the abbey, the dean and
chapter have appointed two interpreters to assist the ordi-
nary officers of the sacred edifice in explaining its chief
feat
features. There is no charge for admission to this venerable
structure, the whole, with the exception of the Chapel of
Henry VII., having been opened to the public several years
ago, when. the s?r.vants were al s 0 expressly forbidden to ac-
cept fees from visitors.

•
BA.TTV'S HIPPODRO.
The inauguratioe of the marvellous Crrate
in which the coetlibutions of the various neat);
earth are arranged for the iiaspectitsa and admit\
myriads of ail sorts and coadittous of men, il4l
been unaccotapanied by the production of novelilills
contributions to the pushc enterteintaent such as hoes
nither:o been unexampled in the metropolis. Amongst
such attractive develops-seats of artistic skill the unique
tad gigantic structure at Kensington, opened on the
ateinorasie Ist of May, under the auspices of Mr. Batty,
is eminently entitled to popular !lease. An uercofed
oval area, measuring 500 feet by 400, is stureuuded by
an amphitheatre rising is seven rows of seats, and
cepable of atl'ording accommodation to 14,000 specta-
tots, ail 'of whom have equal facilities for an unob-
structed view of the performances, although divided
into four classes, at as many different prices of admis-
sion. The nature and diversity of the amusements
presented to the frequenters of this hippo-dramatis
nonpareil may be gathered from the following outline
of the feats which, in company with a few thousand sight-
seers, we have had the pleasure of witnessing. First of
all, the crimson hangings at the southern extremity
being drawn aside, there issued forth a royal pro-
cession—heralds glittering in embroidered tabards,
knights armed cap-a-pie for the tournament, and gor-
geously dressed dames on champing palfrey's, preced-
ing a car in which his Majesty King Henry the Eighth
of uxorious memory, and his briefly. beloved consort,
Anne Boleyn, Were seated in great majesty. Behind
ponies, rode a pair of jesters; and
them, on Jerusalem
thrice traversing the periphery of the arena in solemn
splendeur, the pageant 'vanished whence it came. Next
our nervous admiration was commanded by a elack-
rope acrobat, who performed fearful pranks at a dizzy
elevation, and, on the safe descent of the ceenobates, a
race ensued between two charioteers in classic garb,
the one in scarlet robe being the Automed9n of four
bay coursers yoked abreast, and after an exiting neck
andriho neckin "verdure
conte s t ,clad"
lbearinga„smote th e palmhe
t from his competitor,
flanks
of a
similar
pace, and
teem of greys. Then came a race right gallantly run
nbetween
otnhdrer
oe
ums
otdoerbaehjouledk,eyas caotnteastslbspetpwinegen two os-
triches, mounted by Arab youths, producing an effect
as singular as novel. Four equestrians, each bestrid-
ing a pair of coursers, then displayed their prowess, and
were succeeded by a beautiful horsewoman, whose well-
trained chesnut displayed an ear for music fully equal
to that of the clean mare who was wont to caracole be-
neath the hand of Pablo Fanque. After a struggle be-
tween four Spanish muleteers, each borne by as many
quadrupeds' a chariot and a pair race, beautifully con-
tested by three Romun ladies—an equestrian display by
sundry apes, who cling like grim death to their ponies'
bacl:s—and a hurdle race excellently done by Six im-
personations of Di Vernon, in scarlet habits, the wonder
of the ring appeared, the master of the globe roulante.
Forwards and backwards, up and down the eloping
planks, with happier fate than the ever-toiling Sisy-
phus in Hades, he pedully rolled the magically-pro-
gressing ball, which seemed in bulk and material
to be such a oae as, in days gone by, was shot from a
1 mighty culveriu by the jealous guardians of the Dar-
danelles at Duckworth, when his noble fleet paid an
unwelcome visit to their sacred waters. This exploit
alone is well worth the payment of the entrance fee,
and the second weed of approbation we assign to the
vivid struggle between the female charioteers. The
sports concluded with a " Corso" race, in which tea
riderless steeds, discriminated by scarfs of several
colours, contended the mastery with evident self-enjoy-
went. The entertainments were enlivened by the strains
of two efficient brass bands, stationed in galleries at
each extremity of the major axis of the ellipse. There
is not, we can fairly say, a single place of amusement in
the capital really better worth a visit than the Grand
National Hippodrome. It is calculated to afford a large
amount of pleasure even to adult Londoners, whilst
juveniles and provincials will be fairly enchanted by its
multifarious novelties, which are produced, as Mr. Batty
with perfect truth asserts in his programme, " on a
scale of extent and grandeur hitherto unexampled in
England." Paxton's Palace of Glass, Batty's Hippo-
drome, and Alexis Soyer's Symposium, are the three
grand metropolitan lions of 1851.

ACCIDENT to 111R.COXIVELL'S BALLOON.
Mr. Coxwell, the English aeronaut, who, from his
frequent and succesAul ascents, has acquired quite a
German reputation, has suffered a severe loss by an
accident that occurred to his balloon, on the 6th, at
Berlin. He had announced that he and Mr. Risley, the
proprietor of the Panorama of the Mississippi, would
undertake an aerial journey of undetermined length •
and duration, whether they landed in Austria, Russia,
or Bohemia being a matter of indifference. For this
purpose the balloon was inflated at au early hour in the
ground; of the Schutzm-flaus, and at noon all was
ready for thu departure. The weather, however, was
unfavourable, and strong gusts of wind made the ma-
chine surge violently while still fast to the ground. The
car was packed with all the necessaries for a long trip,
in which many frontiers might have been crossed with-
out passports, and soon after 12 o'clock the two voyagers
took their seats, and the balloon was disengaged. At
the moueeut it was slowly rising one of the frequent
gusts of wind drove it against a group of trees in the
grounds ; it seemed to contend a moment with the ob-
struction, but an unlucky branch had torn the silk, and
the gas rushin,,., out, converted the hole into a huge rent;
the balloon collapsed, and in a few minutes its stately
fabric was lying shapeless, shrunken, and void, on the
earth. Neither of the voyagers sustained any injury.
An immense crowd of spectators dispersed, not without
many expressions of regret at the accident, which to Mr.
Colwell will prove a heavy loss.

RAILWAY RE TURNS
TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE PAST WEEK.

NAME OF RAILWAY.

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