The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-21
THE ENGLISH AND KAFIRs.
To the Editor nf TIE NnfinannI E.n

To the Editor of the National Era.
The war which, for upwards of two years,
has been kept up between the English trooys
and the kafrs, has just closed. Gov. CathcaIt
has failed to execute his threats and has given
peace to the natives on much more moderate
terms than they could have expected. His
predecessor and himself repeatedly threatened
TO pursue them till they were driven beyond
the Kei river, never to return They are now
permitted to settle down on the colonial side of
the kei, are allowed to retain their arms and
cattle, and Sandilli, the hereditary chief who
was pom Yously deposed by Sir Harry Smith, il
acknowledged paramount chief of all the Gaika
tribes.
Gov. Cathcart met Sandil accompanied BY
many minor chiefs and captains, about four
hundred in number. The chiefs tried eyory
subteriuge to evade the terms Of the treaty
g Was ahH cGnxr TAtbSy TAex yaead ia
Of fighting for the Government, and that, there
| FORE to deprive them Of their guns would be to
deprive the colony of the service Of those from
| whom they were taken"
The result of the treaty is, that the Gaikas
we're required to deliver up one hundred guns,
| in token of submission, and to restore the arms
stolen by the Kafr police; they were to for
sake the Amatola mountains, their old terrific
~, and settle on the Kie and Thomas rivers
| The Governor promised to forward to tie
Queen their petition to be allowed to return to
their old homes but gave them no hopes that
it would be granted.
On the part Of the colonists, there is great
dissatisfaction with the moderation. Of the
terms Of this treaty. All the colonial papers
cry out loudly against the mpolicy Of it; they
can only account for the Governors acoedipg
to such terms on the ground that he had posi-
tive instructions to make peace at any rate.
The fact is, the English have become tired and
Disguised with this war, and public opinion in
England has long demanded it's cessation, mt
whatever cost The colonists regard the treaty
as only a cessation of hostilities, which will ie
renewed as soon as the ka6rs have little To
covered their strength, and the prosperity of
the farmers again tempts to plumber. The Cape
Town Commercial Advertiser speaks of the peace
on this wise
"Much has been said, and no doubt will be,
against the moderation Of these conditions but
those best acquainted with the state Of affairs,
are thoroughly convinced that peace had be-
come necessary, and that the determination Of
this resolute people was in fact impossible.
For two years and two months they have re-
sisted British army, amounting to eight or
nine thousand OF her majesty's finest troops,
aided by auxiliary forces still more numerous,
and chung to their country and their chiefs
with bravery and fidelity which no dangers
conld daunt, no temptation overcome. IL is
silly, vain, monstrous, to say OF such peop'e
that they are woIues, mere thieves, and mur-
derers, and cannot be reconciled and made
friends
Ia dealing with such people in future swell
- "A 81. ia nd
contemptuous terms should be avoided not
only by public officers but by colonists, and by
the frontier press
The dissatisfaction which exists in the east
ern province Of the Cape Colony with the mod
crate terms Of the peace, arises in part, no
doubt, from real feeling Of insecurity, while
Kafr is left 30 near them rs it may be posi-
BILE to receive any damage from him. Three
or four bloody and destructive wars have Gre
ated, on the part Of the colonists an inveterate
hatred of the Kafirs No doubt great dissatis-
| faction is also felt and fomented by those who
hoped, by the entire expulsion and destruction
| of the Kafr tribes to make fortunes by speou-
lation In lands from which they should be driv-
en-. As oil wars are, this Ka6r war has been
very disastrous to the prosperity Of the colony.
Many farms and plantations lie waste, the in
habitants having fed for their lives, or been
| murdered by the savsges. Several of the MOI
| noarishing missionary establishments have besn
utterly destroyed by hre and sword More
than eight hundred citizens and soldiers have
been slain, besides many more Of the Fingoes,
who all through this war have remained faith
full TO the English, and the number OF killed
on the part Of the Kafrs amounts to several
thousand. The Ksfrs do not feel the loss OF
property 10 much az do the whites They took
csre TO ssnd awsy their hocks and herds to
distant tribes for safe keeping at the Dom.
mencement Of the war, trusting TO victory and
plumber for support during the conflict Their
huts which have been destroyed were OF little
value, and in few days can be rebuilt In a
war with the whites, the Kafr has but little
to lose and everything to gain,
i The cost Of this war TO the English treasury
has been upwards of two millions sterling ana
they have not attained even military glory u
return, much less any moro tangible profit 4,
future rulers Of Cspe Colony shall have learned
wisdom from the follies and failures OF their
predecessors in the management OF the nauve
tribes on the borders, then good shall come out
Of evil, and this disastrous war shall NOS have
! been utterly in vain. n "A. W.