The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-08-14 00:00:00

DI6TURBANCE3 AT NATAL

We have received Cape of Good Ilope papers to the 10th
of June, from which we extract the foilnwing:—
(From Graham's Town Journal of May 31.)
Intelligence has been received within these last few days
from Natal, by an overland route, via llaforland, up to so
late a date as April 26 We have several
letters
now before
us, giving particulars of the various occurrences Which have
transpired in this country, and of which but vague and un-
satisfactory accounts had before reached the colony. From
these several accounts we shall endeavour to gather a clear
and connected statement.

It appears that, after the treacherous massacre of the bene-
♦olent and ill-fated Retsef and his brave compatrio:s, and
the subsequent butchery of more than 3)O women and chil-
dren at the emigrant camp, the farmers resolved to take tie
field, to enter the Zoola country, and, if possible to avenge
on the head of the ruthless Diugaan, the author of all the
bloodshed, this wanton slaughter of their helpless country-
men.

Accordingly it seems from these accounts, that on the 6th
April a force of between 303 and 400 mounted mei marched
from the encampment, under the command of Piet Uys and
J. Potguter. On entering Dingan's territory they found the
country abandoned, and it was not till they came near Urn-
hunginglore, the capital, and principal residence of the King,
that they met with any obstruction. They arrived in the
neighbourhood on the morning of the 11th of April, and
found the Zoola army drawn up in three divisions, and ad-
vantageously posted on soma rocks, which formed a half-circle.
The road to the royal residence lay through a narrow pass in
the circle, and on each side of this opening the enemy were
waiting the attack. The third division lay in ambush with
the intention of closing in upon the farmers in the rear,
should they enter the circle, and so preventing their escape.
Notwithstanding the immense disparity of numbers, the
farmers resolved on an immediate attack. They divided
themselves into two nearly equal divisions, and at once op-
posed themselves to the two divisions of the 'Lucia army.
One account states that one division of the farmers had not
fired more than 16 shots when they shamefully fled; but this
is explained in another account as follows :
One division on the first onsetwas completely routed. It
appears, from the noise made in beating their shields, and by
the shouting of the warriors, the horses of the farmers took
fright, and they were thus thrown into confusion. The divi-
sion under Piet Uys was thus left to sustain the rush of the
Zoola forces, and it nobly did its duty by a steady well directed
fire. The farmers had thrown the enemy into some confusion,
but from this they recovered, and the gallant little band soon
found themselves hemmed in on every -side. Every man
fought desperately; the fight had continued an hour and a-
half, when the farmers, finding their danger becoming more
imminent, directed a steady fire to one point of the circle, and,
having made a line completely through the enemy, they ef-
fected their retreat, leaving, at the very lowest computation,
from 500 to 600 of the Zoolas dead on the field. At the com-
mencement of the engagement, when the Zoolas were thrown
into confusion, the commander Piet Uys' accompanied by 20
men, rushed gallantly upon the enemy, followed them into a
kloof, and were there hemmed in by an immense body of
Zoolas. Uys fought in the most heroic manner, but fell with
nine of his companions; and his son, a boy of 12 years of age,
fell fighting bravely by his father's side.
It appears that on the very day on which this severe action
was fought, the Natal settlers, under the command .of Mr.
Biggan, marched from the port, to co-operate with the farmers.
On the morning of the lith of April they at length came into
contact with the Zoola army, flushed, with the victory, as they
Tnceived, which they had just before gained over the farmers.
he Natal force, it is said, consisted of 800 men. :300 of whom
were armed with guns and supplied with powder and ball.
The hostile forces immediately came into action. The con-
flict must have been most desperate and bloody, as the result
wits most disastrous. Two thousand of the Natal settlers are
said to have fallen; amongst them are 13 Europeans, and 10
Hottentots.
Ps"tunatelY for the settlers still at Natal, on the arrival of
thi
46astroui intelligence, the brig Comet was still in the har-
bour,
having been delayed by the illness of the master, Capt.
Sadden
here they found refuge.
Thetwaoeepeatitentt s..tate, that since the defeat of the Natal set-
tlers, rarmers had arrived with a message from the
emigrant camp, Arrangements had been made for mutual
protection, and a promise had been given that sr-‘
farmers
should be sent to the port,r for the protection of the place.
From a later account
Shortly after the defeat tZeiLedi there 2dl) men had arrived.
remained
na,
three days,
the set-
tlementd at the port; theyl there and
swept it of every head of cattle. The native settlers had fled
to the bush, and the moveable property was conveyed on board
the brig. The houses at Natal had not been destroyed by the
Zoolas, as they were deterred from approaching; the shore, be
a shot toting occasionally discharged from the vessel.

BEDFORD,—THE JUDGE AND THE BELLRING4R. At the
recent assizes St. Paul's bell rang, as is eustoinarv, for five
minutes, before two o'clock, for the boys to go into the differ-.
ent schools. The noise interrupted Mr. Justice Park, whilst
sitting in the Nisi Prius Court, who asked an officer " What
are those bells ringing for ?" " For the boys to go to school,"
was the reply. " Bless me," said his lordship, "Can't the
boys go to school without having a bell rung for them? Tell
the fellow who is ringing to cease iminedi tel v." A waY wont
the officer, and, on his return, the bell still eon iuu d o jingle.
" Did you tell that fellow to stop the he,i?" inquired Ihe
judge. " Yes, my lord." "Then fetch him to me, and I wilt
commit him for contempt of court." Off went the officer
again, and the sexton, not relishing being committed to pri-
son for doing his duty, prudently decamped without honour-
, tn g the court with a visit. At three o'clock the chimes played ;
"There they go again," said his lordship; "how fond the
Bedford people must be of a noise; why, the bells are ringing,
for something or other, every hour in the day."—Cambridye
Press,