The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-07 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

THE KAFIR WAR.
(From the Gape Town Mail Extra, Jan. 8.)
Tho Frontier Post brings the important and most
gratifying intelligence that Sir Harry Smith, with a
large escort, has forced his way out of Fort Cox,
without loss, and arrived on the 30th tilt. at King
William's Town.

This morning the welcome intelligence reached us
from King William's Town, the dispatches being
brought by Kafirs of Pato's tribe, who succeeded in
eluding the enemy who have possession of the Fish
River passes, of the escape of the Governor from Fort
Cox, and his arrival there on the 30th ultifoo. His
Excellency made a dash from the fort with 250 of the
Cape Mounted Rifles, forcing his passage through the
Debe Neck, though opposed by a large body of the
enemy, who kept up a heavy fire, but without, as far
as we could learn, occasioning any loss to the colonial
troops: His Excellency, it is said, exchanged his
hat for a forage cap of the Rifles, as a prudent precau-
tion against being made a target of by his assailants.
Fort Cox, as well as all the forts along the line
of the Buffalo, will be maintained—East London
being made the base of the military operations now
about to take place. Supplies may be readily
landed there, and then forwarded with great
facility along that line. By holding this chain of
posts the attention of the Kafirs is drawn oil
from the colony, and to which we may attri-
bute our comparative freedom from any large bodies
of the enemy, so that our farmers have been able to
send their cattle to the rear, and to reap a consider-
able quantity of corn. Had the Governor relin-
quished
these posts, it would have greatly inspirited
the Kafirs, and thousands would ere this have rushed
into the colony, and laid waste the border districts.
His Excellency's presence in King William's Town
is very opportune, as it may probably have the'effect
of keeping Umhala quiet. At present he is strongly
suspected of cherishing hostile intentions, but, like all
his countrymen, he is a shrewd, calculating savage,
who weighs the probabilities with great care, and will
only act with decision where he sees, or fancies he
perceives, his own immediate interest. Pato remains
unequivocally allied to the British cause. His conduct
throughout has teen marked by a frank decision which
gives confidence, difficult as it now is to inspire this, in
the sincerity of such professions. His son Delima, it is
said, is in the neighbourhood of King William's Town
with 1,400 men ready to act with the Governor on any
service he may appoint. It is expected, too, with con-
fidence that a diversion will be made in favour of the
colony from Port Natal. In that settlement there
are many thousand Zoola warriors, a portion of
whom, if moved along the Quathlamba to the sources
of the T'somo, might effectually engage the attention
of the Ama-Temboo (Tambookies) and Ama-Galeka
(Kreli's) tribes, and prevent them from engaging
with the other tribes in the war now waging with
the colony. Added to this, a reinforcement of
troops, with artillery, is expected immediately at East
London.

But still, with all these means and appliances, let
the colonists understand that the safety of themselves
and their families depends, under Providence, upon
their own efforts, promptly and decisively made. Sir
Harry Smith is at present in the midst of the enemy,
holding them in check, and preventing them from pre-
cipitating themselves upon the colony. But at pre-
sent he can do no more than this. To enter upon
offensive operations he must have aid, and in the
meantime there is danger lest the troops should be
destroyed in detail. Should a single military post be
carried, the effect may be most disastrous to the
colony, while, on the other hand, if reinforcements be
at once poured into Kafirland, the tide will be turned
—the military communications will be opened, and
the object in view—the complete subjugation of the
Gaikas—be effectually accomplished.
The following is the sum of the information which
has been gleaned from the Kafir messengers, the
bearers of the dispatches received yesterday from the
Governor :

" They state that all the Gaikas, including Botman,
Tola, and the chiefs of Eno's tribes' are fighting.
Seyolo is also engaged, and has moved down to Line
Drift to prevent any communication that way. Ma-
passa and Nyila, Tambookies, have also joined. Anta
attacked Vikaf, the petty, chief who protected Niven's
Mission Station. They had a severe skirmish, the
latter driven back, and the station destroyed. Xox
also bad 'Tyala, the head man, appointed by the Go-
vernor to assist Brownlee, murdered, for telling the
Kafirs it was folly to make war through the laud for
the sake of one man, Sandilli.
"A good many Kafirs were killed in the different
engagements. The Kafirs are beginning to ask when
the wonders stated by the prophet will come to pass,
as they have been fighting their best, and the English
have not yet commenced, and still, notwithstanding
his predictions of safety, they are killed. The tribes
of Kreli and Bugu (Books), also of Umhala, Toise
and Pato, have not at present joined in the war.

"The conduct of the Cap; Corps throughout the
skirmishes which have taken place between the Kafirs
and troops is mentioned in terms of deserved approba-
tion. They have done themselves high honour and
the country good service. Several Kafirs were
knocked over while escorting the Governor, and after
the arrival of his Excelleucy at King William's Town,
in a skirmish with a strong party of the enemy, five
of the latter were killed and two guns taken without
sustaining any loss themselves. Their gallant conduct
affords a fine example, and gives the best encourage-
ment to all engaged."

Sir Harry Smith has issued the following Govern-
ment notice :

" King William's Town, Dec. 31, 1850.
" His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Col.
Mackinnon, reached King William's Town to-day, at
one o'clock, having forced his passage with a large escort
of the Cape Corps through numerous bodies of Kafirs
from Fort Cox vid Fort White. It was his intention to
have proceeded to Fort Hare, but the enemy were in
such force that his means were not adequate to its ac-
complishment. Every power is delegated to Colonel
Somerset, during the forced absence of the Governor
from the colony, to raise levies, &c., and to name the
rallying points of assembly. And his Excellency does
most ardently hope that the colonists will rise en masse
to aid her Majesty's troops, and the reinforcement
of men and guns, which will shortly arrive at East
London, to destroy and exterminate these most barba-
rous and treacherous savages, who for the moment are
formidable. Every post in British Kaffraria is neces-
sarily maintained. The abandonment of one of them
would have been the signal for revolt to every T'Slambie
chief. They are well provisioned for six weeks, and
form a nucleus for an invading army of patriots. The
Gaikas must be driven out of the Amatolas, and ex-
pelled for ever. However great the inroad into the
may have been, it is consoling to his Excellency
that the maintenance of these posts, which in-
ycooviu'ld not have been abandoned, occupies the atten-
cdttoioeolenkocinnof thousands of Kafirs, who would otherwise have
gone into the colony. The line of the Buffalo must be
maintained, coute qui coute. It involves the safety even
of her Majesty's troops, which is paramount.
" By his Excellency's command,
" trOIIN GARVOCK, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Private Secretary."
The following items
Hof additional intelligence are
published in an "extra
of the Cape Monitor, dated
Jan.p i
8 :
" The convicts from the Zaurberg station had arrived
safely at Port Elizabeth on the 2d inst. The Kafir con-
victs vshipped for Cape Town.
soldiers and Hottentots,
well armed,
hre on thed
p from Port Elizabeth on the
b, c ; also 50 able Fingoes
armed. These would be the first levies in the field. It
4th,
e Thirty-eightr she aorb pointedmeinsrc.shem ofDn r
sent
bringune
d Daniell;
was trusted that some of the burghers would move to
the front. A few about the Gamtoos River, and further
to the 2d.
to the westward were commencing. The Kafirs were
concentrating all theirfbrfooemirocne;nr; dHeasrtreoytothtehetro3odps,inasntd.,
then lay waste the frontier.
" The road between Port Elizabeth and Sidbury was
to the farmers,.
reli's tribes are moving forward to
d
a large body, caahnt a‘‘kcfl‘lekrl rido'
aemt
Puh
ahepSsasShwvaihell with
oeaactnaiadedt Whitlesealetters
sle
country; the Hottentots at Kat River
were greatly disaffected.
ghr.s had been called out by Colonel
was doing great mis-
carrying
eShoL?flAeirielnsirentithtraheinurbilotuesu'rrgbgwhehiret.the Civil Commissioners, &c., under
the Governor's authority, under their own respective
commandants.
" Several Englishmen had been murdered by Ile
oterndteortsofw
into every farm, and it was feared the Kat River Hot-
fire and brand
"It was thought that if the burghers came forward
and were let loose to do it in their own way freely, all
would still be well.
rdraan joinush. 027 e wag.
a About forty of the settlers in the military villages
had escaped. All had escaped from Ely.
"Dispatches bad been sent to the Lieutenant-Gover-
nor of Natal to bring down 3,000 Zoolahs on the Gaikas,
through the foot of the Quathlaraba mountains, which is
only twelve days' march.
" A mail had been dispatched from Graham's Town to
the Governor at King William's Town on the 4th.
" Colonel Somerset, after his repulse on attempting to
communicate with the Governor on the 28th ult., suc-
ceeded in doing so by a Kafir messenger on the 29th, and
received his Excellency's reply.
"Colonel Somerset ha, we understand, represented
the necessity of detaining all troops touching at the
Cape, and dispatebieg them instantly to the frontier,
whether eevalry or infantry, and recommends their
being landed at Algos Boy, but,was still sanguine that
the forces would shortly present a bold front to the
enemy, and encourage the depressed farmers and in-
habitants.
"He bad succeeded in collecting several valuable
Fingo levies.
" Fort Beaufort bad been in great jeopardy; it was
occupied by only 50 troops, lost there was a good spirit
there, and a burgher force of 60 mounted men, who had
successfully resisted an attack of Hermanus's Kafirs two
days before.
" The Kefirs lied attempted a strong combination
with the coloured classes, which had succeeded in Kat
River.

" From the paucity of troop; none had •e yet been
detached to the That River.

" All communication between Fort Hare and the Roo.
nap was intercepted.
" A great many women and children were in the camp
at Fort Armstrong on the L'lst of Duember, and num-
bers of the loyal inhabitants were flying there for pro-
tection, saying, We have no arms to protect ourselves
against the Queen's enemies and traitors.' It was ex-
pected there would be sufficient force there not only to
protect the post, but to scour the country.
"'We understand that Mr. Miller is authorized by the
Governor to proceed to Graham's Town immediately, if
he considers it necessary, leaving the next senior officer
in Cape Town to forward supplies.
" A letter from Alice, which we believe may be relied
upon, states that the Hafts had spared all the women
and children of the military villages; our correspondent
had seen them all, and states that they were all ac-
counted for. But Mr. Snodgrass's son, who was taken
by the Kafirs on their way to Alice, was missing, but it
was hoped he would be still alive.
" LEVIES.

"Mr. Badhan and Captain Ranier have obtained 140
men in the Riversdale districts, who, we understand,
will be shipped immediately from Mossel•bay to the
frontier.

"Mr. Southey has already succeeded in raising 100
men in the Swellendam division.

Mr. Field has raised SO at Elim, who are expected to
be in town to-morrow. Mr. Field has himself arrived in
town.

" Two hundred Hottentot levies have just arrived al
the barracks from Groenekloof."

The following circular was dispatched on the 6th of
January to all parts of the country:—
" Colonial office, Cape Town, Jan. 4, 1851.
" Sir,—Herewith you will receive a number of notices
inviting volunteers to offer themselves to serve against
the enemy in the present emergency.
" You will use every exertion to circulate these notices
by means of your field-cornets, and any other fitting
agency, with the least possible delay.
" In order to avoid the inconvenience of leaving the
volunteers in your division to find their unassisted way
to Cape Town, you will apprise the inabitants that you
are authorized to approve, and to forward at the public
expense, in horse waggons if necessary, all volunteers
of the required description.
"It is not likely that men labouring under disease,
or unacquainted with the use of fire-arms, will offer
themselves; but should such men come forward, you
will, of course, reject them. A man who has not health
enough to stand fatigue, or skill enough to handle a
gun, is worse than useless at a time like this.
" If, in any case, you could avoid the serious evils of
delay, by delegating to persons at a distance from you,
on whom you can rely, the duty of provisionally ap-
proving and forwarding the volunteers direct to Cape
Town, you will deem yourself authorized so to do.
"It is proper that I should impress upon you the great
importance of avoiding every species of expense which
can be saved without impairing the efficiency or delay-
ing the movements of the men; but every outlay calcu-
lated to secure the speedy arrival in Cape Town of such
fitting persons as can be obtained in your division will
be sanctioned.

"The bounty will, of course, be paid here. For se-
curing regularity and faithfulness in regard to the dis-
bursements necessary to be made for bringing the men
from their place of starting to their place of embarkation,
Cape Town, you must engage some persons whose cha-
racter and competence recommend them for the duty to
accompany and conduct the removal of the volunteers.
" If fit superintendents can be found amongst the vo-
lunteers themselves, so much the better. To each super-
intendent you will make such an advance of money for
subsisting the men upon the road as you shall deem
sufficient, and apprize him that he will be required to
account for his expenditure upon reaching Cape Town.
The remuneration to be given for,the performance of this
service you will take care to make as moderate as possible.
"In conclusion I have to desire that you will, from
time to time, apprize me, for his Excellency's informa-
tion, of the progress you shall make in raising men in
your division.
"I must again impress upon you the great import-
ance of expedition.—l have, &c.,
" JOHN MONTAGUE. Secretary to Government.
" The Civil Commissioner of —.''

M-ARCH 7, 1851.