The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-16
TAKEN PRISONER BY CAFFREs.

TTransvaal Argus


the corps engaged in hostihties against
Seeocoeni, and who has been missing for
some time, has come in with remarka-
BILE story of his adventures during his
peregrinations. He was captured by the
enemy and taken to the Seeocoeni $,
where he was right royalty treated and
sent away with present of Go from the
chief and letter to prove that he had
been in the kraal. He says:
My horse being knocked up, | was or
dered to remain with the Catfres at Muir
der kop, with Mr. Tainton, but as | did
not rightly comprehend my instructions,
/ continued on the march and rejoined my
troop, which was B troop, Ferreias horse,
and | remained with them until the first
lot of cattle were taken. After this got
separated from the main body and fell in
with five Others who had lost themselves.
They were Peter Grant, Abrahams,
Blackburn, George and st. Croix.
We rode throughout the morning with
out finding the spoor of the main body.
My horse by this time was so exhausted
that | shouted to the men and wanted
them to stop, but they went on, and were
frequently two hundred yards ahead of
me. At length was left alone alto
gether, as | could not keep up to them
| remembered that Grant had told me that
the Panama flats were ON the other side
OF ahigh mountain; but before ( got half
way up my horse gave in, and | let him
loose after which | never saw him again
until got to Secocoeni's. l then walked
over the mountains and on the flats in
search of water, but found none until
noon of the following day. The river
where | got it was smaller than the Oil
fants River, and | followed it because /
met large troops of cattle. Nobody saw
me. | went toward a high mountain,
but was too tired to get to the top that
night, and walked up the next morning.
When here, | made up my mind to fol
low the first path | saw.
While going along saw large troops
of cattle, and at noon observed Caffre
town in front of me. Two Caffre women
saw me and gave the alarm. | then hid
my gun in the bush. | was beaten and
scratched by the women, and some men
came out and took me into kraal
told them that l had left Middelburg
drunk and had lost the road, but they
laughed at me. They however gave me
something to eat and drink. After this
/ was marched off to Secocoenis town,
about six miles away. Here the men
came out in thousands and | was beaten
with sticks. A brother of Secocoeni's
came out afterward and took me up tc
Secocoeni's kraal. Secocoeni sent to say
that must not be afraid and ordered
that should be taken to hut and tied
up. In the evening / had an interview
with Secocoeni and told him the same
story | had told the others about the rea
son of my being in the peighborhood.
The chief said he was not such foo
as to believe that. He then gave me
some beer to drink, and dismissed me
saying that | must not be afraid, as he
would see that | should be sent to the
fort safely. The next day | did not SCI
the chief, but on the day after he sen1
for me and told me to speak the truth tc
him. | was shown four Martini-Henry
rifles Zone of which | recognized as mine
which l had hid away and fifteen cart
ridges. Secocoeni then produced the arm
and hand of white man and said the
five men had been seen and two were
dead. He again asked me to speak the
truth and | confessed that belonged tc
Ferreira's Horse. He then said that he
had given his word, and never broke it.
and / should Co. and added that he knew
as we'll as white man how to treat q
prisoner.
was next asked if l recognized the
arm, and the spectacles of Peter Grant
were held up before me. The day after
saw Secocoeni again, when he said !
should get my horse back, and in the
evening | told him that I could ride
without a saddle. In the morning he
ordered two Cafres to accompany me
with white flag, and | was brought
through by Mamaluhe to this side on the
road to the fort. Secocoeni's brother
was with me up to this time, and before
leaving he gave me ten half sovereigni
in gold. In the town | noticed there
We're many thousands of Caifres. Seco
coeni wanted to know why the war was
still carried on against him, and why
peace was not made. The Chief whose
cattle was captured by us was there and
tied my legs. He added that he and al
his people would fght the white man tt
the last, and that we had better not come
to his side of the mountains, as wewouC
never get out again. A paper was giver
me by Secocoeni's brother for Captain
Ferreira. When Rickers arrived il
camp he looked more dead than alive.
THE PRINCESS BALL.