The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-10-18
How the cairre King Kept Ms Werd.

Trooper Rickers, belongings IN n,,.. -
the corps engaged In hosfilif;es ars;rst
Secocoeni, and who has been raiss;s,sr fo,
some time, has Come in with 4 renerta. =.
Bile story of his adventures during rs
peregrinations. He was captured hv tbs
enemy and taken to Secocoeni's where
he was right royalty treated. and sa,,t
away with present Of 95 from the chief
and letter to prove that he had been in
the kraal. He says:
My horse being knocked up, was
ordered to remain with the Caffres at
Murder Kop, with Mr.. Tainton, but as I
did not rightly comprehend my instruc-
tions continued ON the march and re-
joined my troop, which was B troop,
Ferreira's horse, and ] remained with
them until the first lot of cattle were
taken. After this I got separated from
the main body and fell in with five 9th
ers who had also lost themselves. They
were Peter Grant, Abrahams, Blackburn,
George and st. Croix. We rode through
out the morning without finding the
spoor of the main body. Ny horse by
this time was so exhausted that 4 shouted
to the men and wanted them to stop. but
they went on, and were frequently two
hundred yards ahead of me. At length I
was left alone altogether, as could not
keep up to them. I remembered that
Grant had told me that the Panama fats
were on the other side of high noun
tain; but before I got halfway up my
horse gave in, and let him loose, after
which never saw him again until got
to Secocoeni's. / then walked over the
mountains and on the fats in search of
water, but found none until noon the
following day. The river where got it
was smaller than the Olifants river, and
/ followed it because I met large troops
of cattle. Nobody saw me. went tow
ard high mountain. but was too tired to
get to the top that night, and walked mp
the next morning. When here, I made
up my mind to follow the first path Isaw.
While going aleng saw large troops
of cattle, and at noon observed Caffre
town In front of me. Two Caffre women
saw me and gave the alarm. I 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 ] had left Middleburg
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 Secocoeni's town.
about six miles away Here the men
came out in thousands, and was beaten
with sticks. A brother of Secocoeni's .
came ont afterward and took me up to
Secocoeni's 3 kraal. Secocoeni sent to say
that must not be afraid and ordered
that / should be taken to a hut and tied
up. In the evening had an interview
xr1tf kn1I f,s Il.
story I had told the others about the
rea,on OF my being in the neighborhood.
The Chief said he was not such fool 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 I did not see the Chief, but
on the day after be sent for me and told
me to speak the truth to him. I war
shown four Martini Henry rifles fone
of which I recognized as mine, which
had hid away and fifteen cartridges,
Secocoeni then produced the arm and
hand of o white man, and said the Eve
men had been seen and two were dead
He again asked me to speak the truth,
and / confessed that belonged to Fer
reira's Horse. He then said that he had
| given his word, and never broke il, and
/ should go, and added that he knew as
we'll as white man how to treat q pris.
| oner.
/ was next asked if recognized the
arm, and the spectacles of Peter Grant
were held up before me. The day aftea
/ saw Secoeoeni again, when he sid
should get my horse back, and in ths
evening told him that could rids
without saddle. In the morning b,
Oh iered two Cafres to accompany m,
witt, white flag, and was brough
through by Mamaluhe to this side on III
road to the fort. Secocoeni's brother wa
with me up to this time, and before leav
ing he gave me ten half-sovereigns i
gold. In the town I noticed there wer
many thousands of Caffres. Secocoen
wanted to know why the war was still
carried on against him, and why peac
was not made. The chief whose cattI
was captured by us was there and he tie
my legs. He added that he and his pee
pie would fight the white man to the las,
and that we had better not come to hi
side of the mountains, as we would neve
get out again. A paper was given me b
Secocoeni's brother for Capt. Ferreira.
When Rickers arrived in damp he locke
more dead than alive. T5nsuadi Arq,s