THE TROUBLE AT THE CAPE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 44, 20 February 1879, Page 4

THE TROUBLE AT THE CAPE.

[From the " Pall Mall Gazette." Natal contains a native population estimated at £300,000, of Zuln nationality, while its European and cooliie in. habitants number topetber some 40,000. Oo the south, ia its immediate neighborhood, are tbe Basutoe, who are British subjects living under the jurisdiciion of a chief magistrate appointed by the Cape Government. Between them and the sea, on (he Natal boundary the country helonga to the numerous Amapoado tribts, for the present friendly, but believed to be in corcmunic&tioa with the disaffected natives, and watching the course of events, lo the north, adjoining the colonial boundary for nearly 200 milts, is tbe Zulu country. The Zulus aro tbe most warlike tribe with which we are likely to nave any encounter in South Africa. They are subject to a military despotism as grinding iu its tyranny as any existing in Europe. They are a nation of soldiers, and from the time each tniu becomes capable of bearing arms, until disqualified by old age, their lives are ruled by military considerations. To wo:k is beneath a warrior's dignity, unless it be in furtherance of a warlike objeci. Their fields are cultivated by their women; the occupation of the men, when not engaged in drill is hunting. Cetewayo, the Zulu King, can, it is Baid, put into the field from I 40,000 to 60,000 warriors, armed more or less with guns, organized in regiments, a.nd accuatomed to execute concerted movements. The organization itself, due to the skill nod genius of Chaku, the present King's deceased uncle, and founder of the nation, was neceeeary to prevent their annibilutioa, while yet a young nation, by the neighbouring tribes, whom they afterwards conquered one by one. But now the necessity which called it into operation having passed away, it is simply a machine for the generation of power, whose energy, now long peat up by the presence of the British, has had no outlet, and therefore threatens to force the King into a war, or subject his country to a revolution. Cetewayo 19 a really formidable potentate!; and if the war breaks out, as it probably will, the skill of Lord Chelmsford will be severely taxed to enable the email forces at his disposal, scattered a"s I they are over a large extent of country, to withstand the Zulu onset. SecocoeDi, Cetewayo'a vassal, who ia 1876 proved | too powerful for the late Boer Republic, has, for tome time time been engaged in hostilities against as in the TrangI vaa); and has keep tbe Iroopa add volunteers available 1 there fully employed. On one occasion, with the aid I of superior numbers, he even &ue<Jeede 1 d in driving back the colonial forces. But for the great part he has confined himself to night attacks and cattle lifting ; while with the ten thousand warriors he can command he has entrenched himself in one of the inaccessible mountains which abound in tbe southern part of Ihe Transvaal. His retreat is upon certain large cavea iituated in a steep mountain, the sides of which are defended by parallel stone walls, increasing in strength as the top is approached. To storm the position is impossible without a greater loss of iife than with small forces is advisable. To starve him out will be tedious, and he ia reported to be well supplied with j food and water. Tbe commander-in- « chief is aaid to have lately suspended all operations against Seeocoßni until he has settled tbe impending Zulu difficulty. The danger, however, doea not lie exclusively intheamonnt of damage Cetewayo may be able to inflict, great aa that is. The South African natives worship visible power, and tbe greater cause for anxiety is that a combination of all the disaffected (ribes may be formed under Zulu leadership. Such a combination has been hitherto made impossible by petty tribal jealousies, and many have affeoted to disbelieve its possibility. But tbe better-informed men of the colony have considered that the danger might become a reality in the event of eome occurrence that would deeply stir native feeling. They \ have observed that a great change hag

come over native opinion — that (he collapse of the Transvaal Republic first broke (he spe!! which the invariable victories of the colonists ha<! established. A notioD, moreover, had got abroad among the natives that the inferiority was simply due to the want of guns and arnmunitioD. Hence for tnnny years they have been accumulating firearms; and not only have they acquired them, but a fair understanding of their use. These far from uniotelli gent savaaeß saw, too, that much of their weakness arosa from one tribe being played off against another. For somo years, therefore, they have been, and are now, attempting to bring about an alliance of tho native races. Messengers have been, and are constantly, passing between Cetewayo and other chicle with the hard-concea.'ed object of bringing about a combination hostile to the supremacy of the white men. Events are heing watched by all the disaffected tribes; and one serious disaster miy biiog about the conflagration to avoid which every sacrifice ought to be made. For, on the other hand, if the impending struggle is ooce successfully ended, it may, by the execution of a firm and fearlessly just native policy, lead to the final establishment of our power, and the beginning of a proaperouß era for al! South Africa.