Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-04-18
From a late London Paper.
INTERESTING NARRATIVE

From a late London Paners
INTERESTING NARRATIVE
|Ofshe wonderful Escape Of an Officer lost
in the Wilds Of Cafraria, africa.
Extract Of letter from an Officer serving with
the army in Caffraria, just received in London.
:. have now been three months under
canvass, exposed to most inclement wealth.
|er, cut off for long time from communi-
cation with the colony, from the rivers be-
ing swollen, and deprived Of the comforts
Of life, snd almost its necessaries. On.my
first entering this country, / wrote long
letter describing the alarming state of the
settlement, from the dreadful depreda-
lions and excuses committed by the CAT
Tres, in series of incursions, accompanied
with general attack by their conceutrat
ed force of 10000 men, upon the military
depot at Graham's Town. The small
military force of Europeans opposed to
the Caffres, not exceeding ESQ men, rem
dered the event at first extremely dubi-
Gus. The Caffres made a tremendous
charge from an elevated height, with a
hideous yell, and had they not suddenly
stopped on approaching us, must, 10 spite
of every effort OH our part, have over
wheImed and destroyed every soul. Di
vine Providence, ever watchful, inter
posed at this critical juncture. The
-Caffres stood motionless, allowing our
troops TO NOW them down by hundreds.
till, panic struck with viewing the dread
full effects Of musketry aud field ordnance,
they retired in body, after three hours
and half conflict, leaving about 500 kill
ed on the field, and as many more wound
ed. The charge OF the Caffres was firm.
regularly conducted, and with rapidity
of loot almost Incredible. Their i'm
mense force. and wariike appearance, was
calculated to create apprehension 10 the
most uudaHnted mind, and the idea Of
neither giving quarter to man, woman or
child, or taking il themselves, rendered
the affair one of the utmost desperation,
revolving ia the extreme, to a civilized
aud enlightened mind. For myself,
viewed the misguided savages with an eye
Of commisseration. The predictions Of
their chiefs that We we're to fall into their
power by a miracle, led them TO the act
which they have since been feeling the i'll
effects Of having engaged in. Works
were thrown up for the protection of Ora
hams Town, and the different posts, prior
to entering Caffraria with hostile force
of two thousand men, and which took
| place in the month of July last since that
period we have continued traversing the
country in all directions, driving the saw
ages before us, but never bringing them
to an engagement. The Caffres have
every where deserted their homes, leaving
their women and children to their fate,
and who, in many instances have lost theiE
Lives from cur not being able to distinguish
Them from men, the costume of dress be-
ling so much the same. My employment
was such as obliged me to be detached
with few followers continually, and often
lalone, and 10 one Instance, early 10 tn,
lmonth of August, l rode out by mysel
to discover the course of river. III
my anxiety for the object in pursuit,
lost sight of the closing Of the day. M,
compass failed in giving me information Q
lmy direction: sought 10 vain for tn
track | had taken, became benighted, los
| my way, aud found myself destitute 10 a
enemy's country, without chance of dis
covering a road to any spot, and surround
ed by elephants, lions, tigers. wolves, an
lsavages. Picture 10 yourself my situs
ltion; but attend, and it will become sti
more deplorable. Finding myself be
lnighted, got off my horse, took the bri
die and saddle, laid it by my side. an
concealing myself under thick bust
securing my horse TO tree at hand. A
night spread her sable mantle around. th
roaring Of lions, and cry Of elephants, q
harmed me. / had but brace of pistol
! to defend myself with. After remainin
lin the bush for two hours, herd Of
dozen elephants approached, frightene
my horse, who broke loose, ran away, ar
came Immediately to the spot where wa.
for safety. I climbed the highest tire
I around me, but could not ascend beyon
the reach Of these monstrous beasts, VIII
arranged themselves around me in pre-
cessiou. BY the moon, which had jus
, risen, I discovered their movements to b
, playful, which gave me confidence anf
after locking at me with the insignificanc