HOTTENTOT WAR.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2176, 15 February 1881, Page 4

HOTTENTOT WAR.

la Damaraland—north-west of the Gape Colony—a sanguinary war has commenced between the Herero Samaras and the Namaqua Hottentots. Colonial rule does not extend there, although at one time negotiations were in progress with a yiow to the acceptance of the inhabitants as British subjects. Mr Palgrave, who was sent to them as special commissioner, has since safely returned to Gape Town ; bat the Acting Besident, Major Musgrave, still remains at Walwioh Bay, the port of the territory, whore there is a Customs establishment, mainly for the purpose of checking the gun trade. The scene of the reported disturbance is at a considerable distance inland, where the Samaras and Hottentots graze their cattle on the plains. The immediate cause of the war (as stated by the Eev. H. Brinckor, the missionary at Otjimbinqne) was a quarrel as to the supposed theft of a Damara cow, which, as it afterwards turned out; had merely strayed away. But the Hamaras suspected the occupants of a Namaqua kraal of having stolen the animal, and without ceremony made a raid upon the place. The Namaquas retaliated, and in an encounter with the Hamaras, the latter wore defeated and fled, leaving their herds behind. Tho Namaquas pursued them, killing obout ten men of other cattle posts, and looting about 1500 head of cattle. As soon ns this become known at Okahandja (the capital of Damaraland), the chief, Kamaherero, gave orders to kill all Namaquas living at hiu place and elsewhere among the Hamaras. On the morning of August 23rd, a general butchery commenced. At a place near the mission station at Barmen twenty Namaquas, servants of Baatard-Hereros, ond formerly servants of Jonker Africander, wore killed. At some places four, at others five, wore slain ; but numbers, especially of Berg Hamaras, musk have perished at more remote places. According to the latest accounts, more than 150 Namaquas, men, women, and children, besides large numbers of Barg Hamaras, wore killed on that terrible August 23rd and following days.