New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-24

Since wrote you last strange events have
taken place in this Inflated colony. gave you
an account Of Sir Harry Smith visit TO Kafrlaad,
and how he had, as he and indeed all the colo
nsts supposed he bad settled all the vsrious dis
putes between the white man and the kathrs.
He deposed Sandilli chief OF the Gaikas, aud pro-
claimed an Englishman chief We'll, he LETT Tor
Cape Town, enjoying the Otium OF Governor Ia
vored in public opinion, when rumors again arose
that the Kafrs were not satisfied, especially San
dill, whose temper was hurt by his unceremoni-
GUS dismissal from all the honors OF chiettalnahp,
and that general outbreak among the Gaikas
wss to be expected.
The farmers, most ofwhom had experienced great
loss during last war by stay ing In their farms
took alarm, and collected their focks and herds
and all their movable property, and started off to
different blackstone to George, some across the
Orange River and indeed anywhere quite out OF
reach Of the Kafrs, leaving the frontier for miles
and miles quite bAre-not white man to be SEEN
The Kafirs became insolent, and attacked some
Government wagons in the Debe Flats, near
King Williams Town, British Ksfirsra, and also
broke into several houses and stole FIRE arms and
did much mischief Sir Harry promptly came up
again, bringing with him the 73d and artillery
from Cspe Town proceeded to Fort Cox, 10
Kafirand, and there met the chiefs again, Sandili
not appearing. Many said they would stand by
US, and PATIO, chief Of the TSlambie Tribe, an In
huential friend promised to keep all roads open
in case DIVA Sir Harry offered reward OF 500
head of cattle for Ssndill, and $50 head for ANITA,
Sandilis brother, great warrior, and there the
matter ended for a day or two.
On the oath December Sir Harry fearing that
SandilE might try to get into the Amatola noun
tains the stronghold ofthe airs, sent Oft force
| under Colonel Mackinnol TO intercept him, and
this force, in passing through narrow defle, was
| attacked by large body of Kaiirs, armed with
guns and assegais Ia spear they throw with fear
| fulprecision.l The result was that the force was
| obliged 10 retire, leaving one officer and ten men
| dead, and having two officers snd twenty men
wounded. The Kaftrs allowed the Cape Mounted
Rifles force of Hottentots, and the X aitr Police
an armed Police force consisting OF aihrs OIL
| fcered by Europesns--tO pass and fired only on
| the red Jackets and next day the whole K aiiir
| Police 500 strong, armed and mounted, went over
| to the enemy leaving no doubt that they had led
Col Mackinnon into the pass the day before.
The same day, or rather on the 25th, two mill.
tary villages were burnt, and all the people killed
and fearfully tortured, and war was declared. The
| governor was at Fort Cox, and in attempting to
communicate with himfrom Fort Hare, distance
oils miles, our troops, the 9lst $50 men, and cape
| Mounted Rifles, so men, had an engagement, IN
which we lost two officers, 9lst, killed and 20 men,
one officer and o wounded The Kafhrs are very
bold this war, and fight in the open cOuntry-a
thing unknown before. They say they will kill
all the white men, and regain their land. We
have lost upward Of 100 men and three officers ia
four DAYS. Sir Harry was hemmed in at Fort Cox,
rived that he has cut his way through to King
Williams Town, and may be expected in here.
So much for the war now for its results. Mar
tial law is proclaimed in all the eastern province,
and western also. All business, surveying and
farming is stayed; crops are left uncut on the
ground, for this is harvest time here and the
whole country fly into the town-catte, horses,
sheep, &c Graham's Town is full, and every.
thing Is at war price. Levies are being formed,
and the Burgher forces are called out, as Sir
Hauy says in his dispatch to day, to kill and ex-
terminate the savage tribe of Gaika, and root
them out Of the Amatola Mountains. There are
only the 73d, 9lst, 9th, 45th, and Cape Mounted
Rifles, with some artillery, in all about 1000 men,
in the colony. There are about ten posts to be
defended, and filed force TO be also provided out
of this force So that all depends on the leves
and farmer or Burgher forces. This small force is
the result Of the Exeter hall patriots Last war
5000 men could not beat the atirs, and now
1000 5000 will not; for even Sir II. Smith,
who knows the Katiirs as well as any man, owns
that their tactics are quite different Nearly all
have guns and are good shots. Aud God knows
| what will become of us all. | suppose at home
they will grumble at the, EXPENSE Of sending
troops QUE Let ehom consider the rulnous loss
all we here have-men losing their all, and having
to begin again, after the war, with only good
name and knowledge of their Losses. 1t will be
two years before the colony is fit for anything
again. for many farmers have left it entirely, with
alt they can muster; and the war all say, will
last twelve months at least. l am one of the ru.
ined.
From the Cape we have, by way of Boston, ad-
vices to Feb. 4, nearly month later than those
of the English papers
The accounts are most deporable. The Kaiiir
Chiefs have generally ebelled against the Eng.
lish authorities, and it was feared at the latest
accounts that the Hottentots were also WRverlng
in their loyalty.
From the last Of December the date of the last
advices war of posts had been continued be
tween the rebels and the English and their native
allies, in which the former were always victori-
| Gus where the action was in the open field
The accounts of the murder Of farmers in the
interior their families and servants, by the rebels,
| come in from all quarters and where they were
| not killed they were driven off pennylesS, and
their farms and horses plundered and burnt
Sir Harry Smith, the English Governor, was
! forwarding levies to the scene of war. The colo
nists were aiding, believing that in prompt sup
! preston of the rebellion lay their only safety.
Should any number of the different native chiefs,
with the Hottentots Join the rebels, the contest
would be desperate one 1t was thought that
the Governor would soon be at the head OF 10000
! men.
The Cape Town Gazette of February l, says
that on the 23d Of snuary, the Ksfhrs 1000 strong
attacked the colonsts eud other allies, near Fort
/ Hare. They were rePulsed with the loss of 100
| killed.
On the Sd Of January, strong force OF ksthrs
attacked Fort White. The Kafirs were dispersed
with twenty killed. On the morning Of the 7th
the rebel chief Hermanus, with his horde of X at
frs and the Hotteptots whom he had seduced or
| compelled TO accompany him, attacked Fort Beau
fort. The assault was repalsed, and the chief and
his son and number of his people killed, and his
| party completely routed
The colonists both English aud Dutch, were be-
| ginning to turn out, in some force. command
| of about so mounted bUrehers under Field Com
mandant Bowker, composed the GrahGn'S Torn
Journal statesl of about equal numbers of Dutch
and English, had gone from Somerset to attack
| the rehels at w atsrkloOf. thev wara 10 be fol.