New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-09

.,,,c N encouraging tho prophet, and In mary 10
.ums navtcuIariy beyond our tentoyy compelling
s y Ii comply with b's bebseA, was fuM OF
reyl ns ths 0ossnnent ne On hoS s ~ .'.SS
49, successes as were promised 10 them, would
.srilv commit thefs and other outrages; ana
nv, he,s uuIees the greatest prudence was observed
wor would inevitably result. ga. u1r :,
Sir George Grey, averse 10 war ana 10 ~ exW'nd-
;tpre. resolved to avoid hostilihcs:
:. /, soon became obvious that the object Of some
of the chiefs was provoke 70 war, and to tempt
us 10 nske eiTurt 10 seize either the prophet or
scne one Of The chiefs and thus 10 embark in military
one raiops, which would inevitably bring on pro-
iopeed contest. To have done this, however, would
have been TO have playtd the game Of the CHIEFS We
would have reinstated them with all their power and
influence. At its close they would have been, rs re-
earied their Influence their followers, far more
Dow erful than at iis cement all that had been
&C ompliehed TO bring them under European law and
influence would have been undOne.
The Governor was confirmed in his peaceful pol
icy by the following considerations: .,...
ct was judged to be probable that the career upon
which IN. KaJre chiefs appeared to have resolved t.
.nler would end in the breaking up of their nation Ia
the destruction Of their power and in complete
change in the habits Of the entire race as II the people
persisted IN destroying their horned stock, the milk
and feth of which had, from time immemoral, formed
their chief means of subsistence they would be neces-
sarly compelled to become cultivators OF the SOIL and
in great measure to sustain Themselves and their
families by q more laborous industry than they had
ever previously adopted. In fact voluntarily to de-
stroy their cattle was voluntarily TO destroy their en-
tire poty, ard 10 sweep away all their natonai haoi's
and customs.
Here follows the graphic account Of the crisis
Gas it was foreseeD, the chiefs had Over.estimsted
their power over their people. Their influence had
already suffered greater decline than they were
aware of. day Of hope had already dawned for the
wel-disposed and many of their people now refused
to obey the commands Of the prophet, and would not
destroy their cherished cattle Hence arose two great
parties in ssnaion, the believers and the unbelievers
The latter including most Of those who were attached
10 missionary stations who were retained in the
pay of the Government as village police or who had
adopted European customs. The believers gradually
destroyed all their corn and live sock Of every
description and would not cultivate their land. One
part Of them, apparently hoping, month after month
That they would be attacked and that war would be
led them Faithfully and truly to believe in the prophet
earnestly trusting, day by day, tlrat his predictions
might be fulfilled.
At length matters drew toward a crisis. The
means of subsistence Of the Kafre race had by the
month Of February last far diminished that it was
requisite that decisive step should be taken by
their chiefs. Their prophet, therefore,, fixed upon
Wednesday, the 18th of February, 90 the day upon
which bis predictions were 20 be fulfilled. When the
sun rose that morning after wandering for time in
the heavens it to set again in the east and hur
rcspe then to sweep from the earth all who had
not believed in and obeyed tine prophet, whe Their Eu-
II
we're rise from the dead, with countless herds OF
cattle Of an improved breed, and with quantities OF
property Of every description, all OF which were to be
shared out amopg the followers of the prophet, who
were 10 be at the time restored to youth and en-
lowed with beauty.
during the few days preceding the 18th of Feb:
ruarary the believers in the prophet slaughtered all
their remaining cattle and live stock and destroyed
what means of subsistence they had left. They had
previously rehatched their hus in the most careful
manner that they might resist the expected hurricane
and finally, the Wednesday, shut themselves up in
them. awaiting the events which il had been pre-
dicted wOulo take place.
1.-The 18th Of February found them disappointed,
destitute, aud in many instances prepared to commit
to which the followers of the prophet had reduced
themselves that of the greatest chiefs, who had
formerly owned immense herds of CATTLE had not
single head left Of the greatest chiefs had pre-
chiefs has been obliged to work upon the roads,
while in many parts the country was covered through
out the day by crowds Of women and children digging
for wild roots the only of subsistence left to
them. Bands of marauders soon collected together
and began to attempt to page Unfortunately, either
Europeans or their unbeleving countrymen. Many
robberies were committed by armed parties, and
unfortunate persons were barbarOusy murdered
II was evident that the lOng-antcipated ctiss had
at length come, and the Government at once took
measures 70 provide employmenawitbin the colony or
upop public works. for all destitute persons who might
apply for work-tO make such arrangements as
might prevent bands of marauders from passing into
the coiopyto render safe the principal high roads
in British Kaffraria-to organize the unbelievng ma
tives who stl preserved their cattle and property, 30
that they might be able successfully to resist and put
down their maraudiDg countrymen."
AL these strange events led Sir George to the
following conclusion:
Wisely used the existing crisis may produce per-
manent advantages for the whole of South Africa.
restless nation which fo years has harassed the from.
tier may now, 10 great extent, be changed into use
full aborers. Those who have hitherto destroyed the
of the colony whenever they appeared about
10 expand may now be made the means of giving to
those resources by their industry, greater develop
ment then they have hitherto attained The
Influence of the chiefs for evil having to great extent
been swept away, there is greater hope than at
any former period that civilization and Christianity
may be successfully Introduced among the kare race.
A. Z. e.