A narrative of the irruption of the Kafir hordes into the Eastern Province of the Cape of Good Hope, 1834-35. Compiled from official documents ... by the editor of the 'Graham's Town Journal'

Front matter

AND ADJACENT COUNTRY OVERRUN BY THE KAFIRS,— 1834-33. A NARRATIVE OF THE IRRUPTION OF THE KAFIR HORDES INTO THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF THE (B&IP22 q)ff> (BQ)(DQ) ffl©ffia» 1834—35. u >, PILED FUOM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES, BY THE EDITOR OF THE "GRAHAM'S TOWN JOURNAL." " Till books are written and printed in the Colonies, they will continue to be~ misrepresented, misunderstood, iDJured, and insulted."— Commercial Ad vertiser, March 10th, 1824. j_ ©rafjam'g tfoton : PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY MEURANT AND CODLONTON, HIGH-STREET, AND SOLDBV A. S. ROBERTSON, CAPE TOWN. 1830.

Preface

. The Cape of Good Hope, from its geographical position, must unquestionably be considered as one of the most important and valuable dependencies of the British crown. It comprehends a space of about 120,000 square miles, and contains, according to the latest census, a population of 145,000 inhabitants. Its surface is irregular, and greatly varied in respect to fertility. In many parts the soil is rich, and vegetation luxuriant ; in others, there are large tracts of sandy desert, without moisture, and producing nothing but a few stunted shrubs, or patches of sickly verdure, of little aid to the support of animal life. A country of this character is not calculated, and never can, maintain a dense population; and hence we find the inhabitants scattered over an extent of surface which, at first view, appears extraordinary.

Taking this colony, however, on the whole, it must be pronounced as extremely fertile, and possessing vast capabilities for improvement. It produces all the necessaries, and most of the luxuries, of life. It is rich in cattle and sheep. Favored also with a climate of equable temperature; neither exposed to the scorching rays of a tropical sun, or the piercing blasts of a more northern latitude; it is particularly favorable to the health and longevity of its inhabitants. Its commercial capabilities are thus summed up by one of the most intelligent writers on the Cape : — It offers " a midway station between Europe and the East Indies; one month's sail from the Brazils and Buenos Ayres; less from Mauritius, Bourbon, Madagascar, Mozambique, and the eastern parts of Africa ; it appears to be in possession of the choicest site for the trade of the eastern and western world."* •"The Cape of Good Hope in 1822," by the late W. W. Bird, Esq.

PREFACE.

. IV On two sides of this extensive tract of country we have the Atlantic and the Indian oceans. On the other two it is bounded on the east by the country of the Amakosa and Abatembu Kafirs, and on the north by that occupied respectively by the Griquas or Bastards, the Co rannas, the Bushmen, and the Namaquas. To defend this inland boundary, extending at least 800 miles, a system has been adopted peculiar to the colony, under the general name of the " Com mando System," and which simply means a levy or muster of the inhabitants under proper officers, appointed from amongst themselves by government for mutual defence. Thus they may be considered as a sort of militia, but without that attention to discipline which is paid to such corps, both at home and in British America. Such a system is not only rational, but it is one to which the people are compelled to resort by a principle of self-preservation, inasmuch as the only military force employed for the defence of this long line of boundary has scarcely ever exceeded the amount of 800 men.

Along the greater part of the northern boundary the country is of that description as not to require or admit of military defence. Large tracts of territory beyond are very thinly inhabited, presenting little more than a succession of arid deserts. But few inhabitants are met with save the solitary hunter, or occasionally a predatory band, asso ciated for the express purpose of plundering the colonial farmer ; and who brave the perils of the wilderness to execute their bold and too often bloody enterprises. When these forays are attended by deeds of peculiar atrocity — as the murder of a family, or the destruction of a farm — and such acts have been of too frequent occurrence — the in habitants are called out on "Commando," or, in other words, to pursue the plunderers, — to recover, if possible, the stolen property, — and to punish the guilty parties for the crimes committed.

On the eastern boundary the case is widely different. Instead of being defended by extensive wastes, affording little or no sustenance for human life, the country adjoining the colony in this direction is alike beautiful and fertile. Hence it is thickly populated, and that by a bold and active people, accustomed to the use of weapons from their childhood, and who have but very faint perceptions of moral right to deter them from the commission of acts of the most flagrant dishonesty. The whole of the eastern frontier districts exhibit, at this day, the most striking

PREFACE.

. V vestiges of the savage warfare which has been waged by these bar barians against the colonial farmers. Numerous ruins of farm houses, many of them very large and substantial premises, display the ferocity with which their possessors have been driven from their homes by these daring and warlike people. To defend the inhabitants against such inroads, the British government has appropriated the slender force we have stated ; but as this has been found totally insufficient for the purpose, it has been customary, as on the northern frontier, whenever it has been deemed necessary to repel or punish the barba rian hordes for their daring inroads, to associate with the military a certain number of the inhabitants, — the whole force, when assembled, being called a " Commando." The general object, as well as the term itself, having been grossly misrepresented, it appears desirable that the public should be unde ceived and set right on a matter, to the Cape colonists, of consider able importance.

Hitherto no record has been kept, or at least published, of the actual proceedings of a commando ; and hence, when calumny on the subject has been industrioulsy circulated through the world, it has been at best but partially contradicted and exposed. The inhabitants of this frontier have now the means at hand of ob viating this : with the Press established amongst them they have the opportunity of exhibiting all their public proceedings to the full and open glare of public opinion. In preparing this Narrative for publication, the compiler has aimed at nothing beyond a plain, unvarnished relation of facts. Most of the occurrences detailed have already appeared in the columns of the " Graham's Town Journal," but being interspersed with other matter, it was considered desirable that the whole should be re-published in a more convenient form for reference ; that the several events, and a number of important public documents, should be arranged consecutively ; and that such emendations or additions should be made as information obtained since their original publication might point out as necessary.

With respect to that thread of narrative which has been used to connect the various incidents and papers, the compiler may be permitted to state that he attaches thereto no im portance whatever : no attempt at effect has been aimed at, and if he be clearly understood, his object is entirely gained. VI

PREFACE.

. To those gentlemen who have so kindly communicated to him information on subjects which fell under their immediate observation, the compiler tenders his best thanks. To the Honorable Colonel Smith, the Chief of the Staff, especially, he is under very great obligations for the readiness with which he furnished him, from time to time, with such particulars as prevented, at the moment, the possi bility of a false impression being made on the public mind, either as to the extent of the danger to be apprehended, or of the character of the war in which the inhabitants found themselves so suddenly plunged. On this subject it was, and still is, extremely important to the future well-being of this settlement that the public should not be deceived. While, therefore, this point is secured, this little work may be perused hereafter with interest as a faithful record of the severe and trying difficulties which the early settlers of Albany, and the inhabitants of the frontier districts in general, have had to contend with in defence of " their hearths," against the inroads of a barbarous, dishonest, and treacherous people.

And the compiler cannot but indulge in the pleasing hope, that the next generation of colonists, while they peruse these pages, may have cause of abundant gratitude to God that, by the efforts of their forefathers, they are not only spared from the horrors of barbarian inroads on their peaceful homes, but also from that humiliation and wrong which are the result of cruel and unprincipled misrepresentation. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Events preceding the war— Suspicious conduct of Hintza— Affray with Ensign Sparks— with Lieut. Sutton— Proceedings of the Kafirs at the Chumie— Plan of Macomo and Tyali to entrap Col. Somerset- Murder of Traders in Kafirland— Simultaneous inroads of the enemy along the frontier line, from the sea to the Winterberg— Murder of Mahony and Henderson— of J. Shaw and Cramer— of A. Forbes and Kirkman— Abandonment of Bathurst— Gallant behaviour of the Ferreiras— Proceedings at Oliphant's Hoek— at Salem— at Theopolis —of the Farmers of the Winterberg under Greyling— at the Kat Riser Settlement— Case of the Trader Bourne— Measures of the Inhabitants for defence —Arrival of Col. Smith Page 1 \

Chapter II

Proceedings of Col. Smith — Appointment of " Graham's Town Volunteers"— Murder of Messrs. Turner, Newman, Blakeway, and Liebergeld —Arrival of Reinforcements— Proceedings of Graaff-Reinet Burghers — Murders in the Zuurberg— Proceedings of Major Cox — Attack on and destruction of Eno's kraal— Movement of Col. Somerset — Affair on the Bushman's River — Massacre of J. Brown and P. Whittaker — Re-occupation of Bathurst — Escape of the Rev. Mr. Chalmers and Mr. Weir from the Chumie— Gallant conduct of the Groepes— State of Kat River Settlement — Delicate position of the friendly Kafir chiefs —Generous and patriotic conduct of the inhabitants of Cape Town — Appointment of Provisional Government at the Cape — Arrival of His Excellency Sir B. D'Urban at Port Elizabeth -Plan of Campaign CONTENTS. VIII

Chapter III

Arrival of His Excellency Sir B. D'Urban at Graham's Town— Of H. M, 72d Regiment— Benevolent and active exertions of the Governor to relieve the immediate wants of the Sufferers— Establishment of the Board of Relief— Mission of Messrs. Fynn and Shepstone to the Friendly Chiefs— Rescue of Missionaries and Traders from Burn's Hill Injurious mis-statements of the " Commercial Advertiser"— Dignified reproof given in Official Notice published by the Hon. Colonel Bell — Destruction of Mount Coke— Meeting of the frontier Traders and Agri culturists — Proceedings consequent thereon — Successful attack of the enemy on cattle-guards at Fort Willshire— Proceedings of Lieut.-Col. England— Falls in with the enemy in great force in the forests of the Fish River Is joined by Col. Smith— Proceedings of Col. Somerset's division — Defeat of the enemy 80

Chapter IV

Treacherous conduct of Hintza — Cruel treatment of the Traders in his territory— Fidelity of the Fingoes and the Tambookies — Escape of the Rev. Mr. Brownlee— Abandonment and destruction of Wesleyville — Gallant defence at the Kat River — Excellent arrangements of the Commissariat — Field Commandant Linde — Fatal encounter at Com mitty's Drift - Gallant conduct of the Field Commandant Rademeyer — Proceedings of Col. Smith — Arrangements for campaign — Inroad into the enemy's territory by detachment under Col. Smith— Mission of Field Commandant Van Wyk to Hintza — Situation of the Missionaries and Traders in the Tambookie country— Attack of the Fetcani— Death of R. Rawlins— Mission to the Amaponda chief, Faku— Attack on cattle guard at Fort Beaufort— Departure from Graham's Town of His Excellency the Governor 108

Chapter V

The Amatoli Mountains— March of the troops into the enemy's territory — Operations of the several divisions —Incursions of the enemy into the Colony— Gallant affair at the Buffalo Poorts— Movement of the troops— Inclemency of the weather— Arrival of the army on the Kei — CONTENTS. IX Cross the river aud encamp near Butterworth Institution— The Fingoes — Arrival of Col. Somerset's division — The difficulties of its march- Dubious conduct of Hintza— Murder of J. Armstrong— Rescue of the Missionaries and Traders from their perilous situation at Clarkebury — Their testimony respecting the chief Vadanna— Liberation of the Fin goes—Gallant aud successful proceedings of Col. Smith— Arrival at the British camp of Hintza — Ratification of treaty with him — Suspension of hostilities — Return of the army to the Kei — That River proclaimed as the boundary of the Colony 126

Chapter VI

Communication made to Hintza by His Excellency the Governor — Departure with Col. Smith — His duplicity — Attempt to escape — His death— Death of Major T. C. White— His character — Proceedings of Col. Somerset's division — Location of the Fingoes — Occupation of the New Province— Interview between Major Cox and the widow of the late Gaika— With Macomo and Tyali— Treaty with Kreili—Establish ment of King William's Town— Inroads of the enemy into the colony — Public Meeting at Graham's Town— Return of His Excellency the Governor — Reception by the inhabitants — The Albany Address — His Excellency's reply - The Petition to the King 162

Chapter VII

Skirmishes between the Fingoes and Kafirs — And the latter and colo lonial forces — Progress of improvement at King William's Town — Fate of Lieutenant C. Bailie — His character— Public Meeting at Cape Town- Address of the inhabitants to the Governor— Journey of His Excellency along the Frontier— Public Meeting at Graaff-Reinet— Address to the Governor — His Excellency's Reply — Narrow escape of Captain Ross — Public Meeting at Port Elizabeth -Massacre of part of the crew of the " James," near the Buffalo River — Attack of the Kafirs on Fort Welling ton—Incursion within the Colony — Affair between Kafirs and Fingoes — Major M'Lean's Patrol— Successful operations of Major Cox— Captain Alexander's rencontre— Conference of Major Cox with the chiefs Macomo and Tyali— Cessation of Hostilities - Faithless conduct of the Kafirs — Gallant conduct of the Field-commandant Piet Uys— Treaty of Peace- Concluding Remarks ERRATA.

Page 20 — 20th line from the bottom, for the "fort called Trompetter's Drift," read ford. 112— eighth line from bottom, for " whence a party of mounted galloped sent forward," read, whence a party of mounted men galloped forward. 117 — bottom line, for "returned from the field of slaughter," read retired. 133 -seventh line of second paragraph, for "the enemy throwed down," read, showered down. 134— seventh line of second paragraph, for " Kafirs had showed themselves," read, shewn. 135 — fourth line from bottom of first paragraph, for demonstation, read demonstration. 140 — seventh line from top, for " its forests axe so precipitous," read, its banks, &c. Next line, for passible, read passable. 146— twenty-first line, for " the place was unoccupied," read, the place was destroyed. 216— fourteenth line from bottom, dele the word " the," 221 — twelth line from bottom, for dependent, read dependant. 223— fifth line from bottom, for "obliged to rfo so," read, obliged tomake it. 224 -sixth line, for dependents, read, dependants. A NARRATIVE, &c.

Chapter I

Events preceding the war, — Suspicious conduct of Hintza, — Affray with Ensign Sparks, — with Lieut. Sutton, — Proceedings of the Kafirs at the Chumie, — Plan of Macomo and Tyali to entrap Col. Somerset, — Murder of Traders in Kafirland, — Simultaneous inroads of the enemy along the frontier line, from the sea to the Winterberg, — Murder of Mahony and Henderson — of J. Shaw and Cramer — of A. Forbes and Kirkman, — Abandonment of Bathurst, — Gallant behaviour of the Ferreiras, — Proceedings at Oliphant's Hoek. — at Salem, — at Theopolis, — of the Farmers of the Winterberg under Greyling, — at the Kat Rioer Settlement, — Case of the Trader Bourne, — Measures of the inhabitants for defence, — Arrival of Col. Smith. History does not furnish an example where a barbarous people have been more essentially benefitted by their proximity to a civilized community, than have the Kafir tribes of South Africa, by their adjacency to the colony of the Cape of Good Hope.

Of course we do not go back to a later period than when it became a possession of the British crown. We have nothing to do with any mis management of previous governments. Captured by the British arms, and afterwards ceded to the British nation, it is sufficient to shew that we, as a people, have not abused our trust, without attempting to invalidate the title of those 3 A EARLY HISTORY. from whom our right is derived, — and which right has been honorably and openly obtained, and fully recognized by every civilized power. Whoever will take the trouble to refer to writers upon Kaffraria— on whom the slightest dependence can be placed— will find that the people of that country, up to the final cession of this colony to the British in 1806, were living in a state of great wretchedness and poverty.

The sovereign power divided amongst a number of despotic chiefs, who were continually incited by their ungovernable passions to aggressions upon each other, — the country torn to pieces by its intestine commotions,— and the people bowed to the earth by a grinding, despotic, feudal system, and debased and brutalized by cruel and obscene customs and ceremonies. It may be said emphatically, that they " lived without God and without hope in the world." Nor had any harbinger of mercy as yet proclaimed to them "■ peace on earth, good-will towards men." No sooner, however, had Great Britain gained possession of this colony, than the hand of benevolence was stretched out to benefit and raise them in the scale of humanity. In 1799, only four years after its first capture by the British arms, we find a mission entering the Kafir country, proclaiming to the barbarian tribes the truths of Christianity, and introducing amongst them the arts of civilization, and the usages of social life.

We have shewn in our introductory remarks the reception which the devoted men engaged in this work of benevolence met with ; — that their messao'e was despised — their lives aimed at, — and that, after suffering the greatest hardships, and being driven from place to place, they were finally compelled to seek shelter within the colonial boundary. We have also described the state of the eastern division of the colony at and immediately sub sequent to its falling into the hands of the British, — that the whole, from the mountains of George to the Fish River, presented one dismal scene of anarchy and confusion. The colonists— d riven from their peaceful homes, their habitations pillaged and burnt, and their cattle carried off by the savages — were wandering from place to place, associated in companies for mutual defence, reduced to the most abject wretchedness, and exposed to constant and imminent danger.

FRONTIER POLICY. With respect to the policy towards the Kafirs of the British authorities, on assuming the government of the colony, it is admitted on all hands — even by those who have been most unsparing in their censures on the colonists — that it was at this period unquestionably characterized by a spirit of justice and benevolence. The most strenuous efforts were made to repress the disorders which existed. Mr. Barrow was sent on a mission to Kafirland, the details of which are given in his interesting, though in many points of importance apocryphal, work ;* the boundary, which had been fixed by agreement with the Kafirs by Governor van Plettenberg, as far back as 1778, was again formally announced, and a prohibition issued against a violation of the Kafir territory under any pretence whatever.

But notwithstanding every endeavour to conciliate and restrain the ravages of these barbarians, they still continued their inroads within the colony, until at length these became so frequent and so formidable that, as we have seen.f Sir John Crado(?ik was compelled, in 1811, to order out the whole disposable force of the colony, for the purpose of repelling their aggressions, — the command being given to an officer, whose head-quarters were established on the spot where we now write, and on which has sprung up, as by magic, a town which is justly entitled to the rank of the Capital of the Eastern Province, when considered either in reference to its amount of population, its trade, or the activity or enterprise of its inhabitants. Vigorous as were the measures adopted at this period, and benevolent as were the intentions of the colonial government, yet they were attended with only a partial effect.

The same daring outrages aud depredations were committed on the colonists as before ; aud although Lord C. H. Somerset used all his ingenuity to correct this * The following striking fact will illustrate our argument as to the in creasing prosperity of the Kafirs. In the year 1778 Mr. Barrow crossed the Colonial boundary, and had an interview with Gaika, who, he informs us, came to the place of meeting galloping upon an ox. Early in the present year, when a great meeting of the Kafirs was called at King William's Town, by Col. Smith, the Commandant of the New Province, — the sons of Gaika attended with from six to eight hundred followers, mounted on capital horses. Yet this is a nation which the good credulous people at home have been taught to believe are about to perish by murders— by massacres— or by want ! t Vide Introductory Remarks, pages 22 and 23.

SETTLEMENT OF ALBANY. state of affairs, and though he tried all the arts of per suasion, and held out the most flattering promises to the Kafirs, still it was unavailing; their predatory incursions continued equally frequent and daring. All attempts to check them only provoked retaliatory measures, until at length a combined and matured attack was made by them on the head-quarters of the military itself, — the failure of which may be reckoned more to the result of accident, than to foresight or good management. So narrow an escape could not but have the effect of awakening all the slumber ing energies of the colonial government ; and it was resolved on, both as a just punishment for the daring aggression, and as a measure of paramount importance to the future security of the inland boundary, that the Kafirs should be required to fall back from the fastnesses of the Fish River to the Keiskamma; thus paying a forfeiture for their temerity of a narrow strip of land, between the two rivers.

Mild as was this punishment, and necessary as it was for self-defence, yet this measure has been magnified into an act of the greatest injustice and cruelty, as being, in short, the actual cause of all the evils which have since befallen the colony. They, however, who contend for all this overlook the fact, that the character of the Kafir has ever been the same ; and that his inroads upon the colonists before the cession of this territory were equally as daring and flagitious, as they have been since. It may indeed be proved that this measure had to a very considerable extent, the effect of allaying those disorders which had previously been so general along the whole line of frontier. In the mean time, by the arrival of the British Settlers, a friendly and mutually beneficial intercourse was established, and the circumstances of the Kafir people began rapidly to improve.

Useful articles of British manufacture were introduced in exchange for raw produce — improvements in agriculture and many useful arts were suggested and taught, whilst many devoted missionaries were interspersed throughout the country, incessantly and zealously employed in raising the people in the scale of society, and in making known to them the gospel of peace. Matters continued apparently in this favorable train until the middle of the year 1834 — for although previous to this many misunderstandings had arisen, and the Kafirs were MURDER OF PURCELL. evidently presuming on the impunity which they enjoyed in the commission of offences ;# yet nothing which could be con strued into an act of open hostility was attempted, until about that period ; when the Chief Hintza removed from the most fertile part of his territory, near the mission station of Butterworth, to the Amava, situated much farther to the northward, and which afforded him an opportunity of com municating with the Chiefs Macomo and Tyali — without being exposed to inconvenient observation.

Just before this removal, viz: on the 13th July, the first unequivocal outrage was committed, by the murder in open day of the trader Purcell. The circumstances attending this atrocious deed are worthy of record, inasmuch as in this case it will be seen that no provocation whatever was given, — and that this unfortunate man was butchered in cold blood, merely on the plea of refusing to violate, by trading, the sanctity of the christian Sabbath. f We are aware that it has been insidiously whispered, and even openly declared, that the bad conduct of the traders has been one cause of the late agressions ; that by overbearing conduct and dis honest practices, the Kafir people had been so highly exas perated, as to resolve upon their extermination, and that the massacre which ultimately took place, was nothing more than the penalty of their own misdoings.

Sweeping charges * During the last two or three years the aim of the Kafirs appears to have been directed most particularly to the plunder of horses. These as suredly were not required for subsistence - a plea which has been urged for their addiction to cattle stealing - and hence it is a strong presumptive proof of their having long meditated and been preparing for an invasion of the colony. The followihg fact will suffice to shew the pertinacity with which at any risk they pursued their aim. A farmer living on the N. E. boundary had treked in search of water and grass for his famished herds. And having taken up a position on a favorable spot— he resolved for the security of his property to watch his kraals during the night ; he himself taking his turn with his servants. One night however, having been on sentry till after midnight, he retired to his wagon, which served as his bed-chamber - calling a domestic to relieve him in the duty of watching the kraals.

At this time all the horses were tied fast to the wagon. Shortly after the servant had been on guard, he heard an unusual noise on the lower side of the sheep kraal, and on proceeding to the spot, he found that a large gap had been made in it, and that the sheep were escaping through the aperture. With considerable trouble he drove them back, and then secured the opening,— whilst, however, his attention was thus engaged, the wily natives who had planned the whole affair, approached the wagon in which the farmer lay at rest,— untied all the horses, and succeeded in driving them clear off. t Vide Introductory Remarks, page 113. EQUIVOCAL CONDUCT OF HINTZA. of this kind can be seldom met; without attempting, therefore, to confute an assertion — where there is nothing tangible to fix upon, but which we know to be equally cruel and un just — we may here observe, that the murder of Purcell has never been either excused or extenuated on the ground of his previous misconduct.

On the contraiy, we find him forfeiting his life through a punctilious regard for a christian ordinance. It would be tedious to cite every suspicious circumstance which transpired shortly subsequent to the murder of this trader. Suffice it to say, that numerous occurrences took place strongly indicative of that hostile feeling which ended ■in the Kafir tribes suddenly bursting into the colony, and laying waste a large extent of fertile territory. We have already remarked, that according to Kafir interpretation, forbearance is weakness, — and hence we find that in perfect keeping with this sentiment, the conduct of the Kafirs gradually became more offensively daring. Finding, however, that even the crime of Murder could be perpetrated with impunity, they soon began to doubt our power to chastise ; and thus when a feeble attempt was made in the sequel to enforce the penalty of a daring inroad, the effort was met by determined resistance.

A British officer had nearly fallen a victim to their resentment, and their plot being then nearly ripe for execution, the colony was entered in force simultaneously along the whole line from the sea to the Winterberg, and those dreadful excesses committed which form the subject matter of the following pages. It will be necessary to detail at length the first affair referred to, many persons having formed an opinion from statements in circulation, that this was the cause of all the disasters which immediately followed ; but for which there is not the slightest foundation. The overt acts of the case are briefly thus : — On the 20th November, 1834, a farmer named F. Schee pers, reported to the military officer commanding at Fort Will shire, that three horses and a foal, the property of a person named Joubert, had been stolen from a farm on the Koonap, the spoor or track of which had been followed until it led to a Kafir kraal belonging to the Chief Eno.

The party in pursuit inquiredatthisplaceforthecaptain ofthe kraal, but was informed none exercising that authority resided there. They then requested AFFAIR WITH ENSIGN SPARKS. to see Eno himself, and he being sent for, they informed him fully on the case, — showed him the spoor of the stolen horses leading to that identical spot, and agreed to wait patiently until he should have had sufficient time to follow up the inquiry and discover the actual robbers. Eno promised to make the search, and appeared so satisfied of the criminality of his people, that he agreed, in the event of not pro ducing the horses, to make compensation for them in cattle. With this understanding the parties remained at his kraal five days ; but finding at length that no satisfaction was intended, Scheepers, as stated, proceeded to Fort Willshire, and reported the case.