THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2029, 25 August 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1880.

A good deal has been heard of late abont the disarming of the Basutos, a South African tribe, living to the south of the Transvaal, and to the westward of Kaffraria. Difficulties had long been anticipated in carrying out the policy propounded by the Cape Government in this direction, and it was one among the many knotty points which Sir Hercules Robinson was expected to have to deal with when he arrived at his new post. A week ago, however, news was received that the Basutes had at last submitted to the colonial troops, and the inference may be drawn that their disarmament is an accomplished fact. It will be interesting to examine the circumstancs which have led up to the present crisis, for that England has been lately on the verge of another " small war " cannot be doubted. It will be in the records of the year 1877 that the germs of the situation will be found. In this year war broke out between the Fingoes and the Galekas on the borders of British Caffraria, near the coast, and considerably to the south-west of Basuto Land. The Fingoes were our friends, and we had established colonies of them in Caffraria proper, beyond the limits of British Caffraria, the former district being semi-independent, the latter being part of the Cape Colony. In this district of. Caffraria proper, then, war between these two tribes broke out, and it spread to these colonies of the same tribes who were settled in British Caffraria, i.e., with Capo Colony. The interference of British troops was a natural consequence, and Lord Chelmsford, then. General Thesiger, was appointed to the command. The Galekas succumbed in 1878, and the Cape Parliament, which was then in session, took into its consideration the custom of .the natives of carrying arms about with them, a custom which it was conceded had had much to do with the late rupture between the Fingoos and the Galekas. An Act called the " Peace Preservation Act" was passed, by which the Governor could proclaim districts within which it should be unlawful for any person, with certain exceptions, to carry arms. In such proclaimed districts all arms and ammunition were to be delivered up within six months, and were to be paid for by the Government at a valuation. Any native who did not comply with the law was liable to a fine not exceeding £SOO, or to imprisonment for six months. The Bill came into force in August, 1878, but the border districts were then in such a disturbed state that it was found impossible to apply it to the Basutos, Tembus, and other tribes beyond the boundaries of the Cape Colony proper. So an experimental trial was made on the Fingoes, our faithful allies, and who were well within the reach of Colonial law. This was evidently hard on the Fingoes, and they felt the operation of the Act all the more keenly because, beyond their boundaries, the less loyal natives were exempt from it. There was felt to be much reason in these complaints, and the disarming of other natives to the eastward was then proceeded with. Bat still the Basutos and the Tembuswere untouched. Iu the session of 1879 the Fingoes petitioned the Cape Parliament to have the obnoxious regulations removed, pointing out that it was manifestly unfair that they, being loyal natives, should be subje't to restrictive regulations, when others, who were anything but loyal, were still able to carry arms. And it may here be remarkod that the bearing of weapons is a mark of manhood among the Kaffirs, and that consequently a prohibition to bear them implies more than may at first sight appear possible. The Fingoo petition, however, was not granted, but the Premier of the colony, Mr. Sprigg, set out for Basuto Land to see what could be done towards disarming the natives there. He attended their annual gathering, and either intimated to them that they would be called upon to surrender their arms, or that he hoped that, when called upon the Government to do so, they would comply. It seems doubtful which of these two propositions be made to the Basutos. Anyhow, on his return, the Government determined to act with vigour, and the Governor, as sole lawgiver for Basuto Land, issued a proclamation bringing the main provisions of the " Peace Preservation Act" into force therein. The Basutos were no more pleased with the proclamation than the Fingoes had been; they declared their entire devotion to the Queen, and determined to appeal to Her Majesty and the Colonial Parliament, and they raised £3OOO to send a deputation to Cape Town and England. The Governor in his proclamation had " improved " on the Peace Preservation Act, and, in the high handed manner somewhat usual to him, had stated that the Basutos must give up their arms within one month instead of within six months, as mentioned in the Act. But, on the determination of the Basutos to appeal, the Government gave in somewhat and extended the time for another month, thus giving the Cape Parliament, which was on the point of sitting, time to decide on the matter. Moreover, the proclamation had strained tho power of the Governor in another direction. The cost of the arms to be given up would be between £50,000 to £IOO,OOO, and such a sum would have to be taken out of the colonial revenue for the purpose, and as no appropriation had been mado for the item, it was very evident that the Colonial Parliament would wish to say something on the subject. The Parliament met, and a hot war was waged on the question. The Opposition declared that the constitution had been violated, and that the disarmament was not an advisable step at the present crisis. The Government, on the other hand, stated that it was manifestly unfair for loyal natives to be disarmed while those beyond the boundaries were let off scot free. The details of the debate have not come to hand, but apparently the Government carried their point, and steps were taken for disarming the Basutos with the result mentioned is last week's telegram. The Basutos evidently have resisted the demand to the utmost of their capacity, and have only been forced to give in by the presence of colonial troops. Even, now, however, the matter is not conclusively settled. It is evident that it is next to impossible to thoroughly carry the Act into force in a disturbed and disaffected district. The smuggling of arms into a country with an extended border is an easy matter and if the Basutos chose to sell their old arms to the Government and buy new ones, there will bo but little possibility of stopping them. The machinery for an efficient carrying out of tho Act is not in existence, and it will depend on tho Natives themselves whether more will bo heard of this matter. Sir Hercules Robinson will fiud

his powers taxed in settling the difficulty. The Cape Government appear not to have acted with the firmness and fairness that might have been expected of them. In one direction they have been precipitate, and in another they have borne heavily on their own faithful allies. Sir Hercules will enter into office with this pretty little imbroglio still in full force.