CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 6 December 1851, Page 4

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We (" Nelson Examiner ") have been favoured by a gentleman who came as passenger in the " Columbus," with a few Cape papers. The Kaffir war, so far from having been put down, was, at the date the " Columbus " called at the Cape (September 13), raging as strongly as ever, and without a considerable accession of British troops, there was little prospect of its speedy termination. An extract from the " Graham's Town Journal," of the 6th of September, will best show the state of the colony:— "We are not able to lecord any improvement in the condition of frontier affairs since our last issue. From all parts of the country we have intelligence of the maraudings of the enemy. In Albany, although defended by nearly 800 troops and a strong provisional force, there still continue to be successful aggressions committed. Scarcely a day passes without tidings of disaster. Within what may be properly termed the Graham's Town district, the loss in cattle during the week has been quite ruinous. "The Somerset civil post-riders report that numbers of spoors of Hottentots and Kaffirs—men, women and children—were seen by them on Thursday last, passing into the colony towards that noted fastness the Zwartwater's Poort. The accounts by last post from Somerset, though they bear ample evidence of the presence of numerous parties of the marauders, and describe the sufferings they inflict, are upon the whole more cheering than last week. Aid from the Burgher force in the rear seems to be confidently relied on, and those few brave men who are leading the van of the ' army of patriots' are acquitting themselves in a manner worthy the applause of every one. These are intrinsically a mounted force, but finding it impossible from the scarcity of forage to maintain their horses in condition, they go from camp to camp on foot! rendering assistance to those who stand in most urgent need, and everywhere doing good service. During the month of August, 64 Kaffirs and other marauders were shot in this district;—two of this number close to the village, within sight of the court house. The Civil Commissioner is actively keeping up a communication with all who are likely to expedite aid, and in this throws both his official and personal influence into the scale. " In the Baviaan's River and surrounding localities, matters are unquestionably in a fearful and distressing state. Tambookie servants who bad remained faithful to their colonial employers during the now eight months' struggle, are found to be in universal trek and desertion, taking with them their master's stock, and inflicting as much sacrifice of life and property as comes within their power. It ought to be matter of immediate and searching enquiry to ascertain to what tribes these fresh deserters belong. Men of affluence, opulent farmers, and once independent yeomen, are now shepherds! sitting on an eminence, rifle in hand, herding their flocks, and these but a tithe of their not long since valuable stock. These • bones and sinews' of our country's strength are many of them houseless and homeless, —all bordering on indigence ; not a few beggars. Their energies are harrowed, their spirits crushed, but not broken." The remedy for this lamentable state of things is declared to be European emigration, sufficient to overawe the Kaffirs by their numbers. The constitution which was to have been given to the Cape, is to be withheld until the state of the colony becomes more settled. This has caused a sensation in Cape Town, where the conduct of the Government is much condemned.