CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. PROGRESS OF THE WAR IN KAFFRARIA. [From the "Sydney Herald," July 15.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 552, 30 July 1851, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. PROGRESS OF THE WAR IN KAFFRARIA. [From the "Sydney Herald," July 15.]

Our files of Capo journals enable us to continue our narrative of the progress of this hairassing war to the hitler end of April ; Graham's Town and other papers to the 2nd of May having been received by us. In the early part of April several circumstances of an encouraging character began to manifest themselves. A laige patrol sent out under Colonels Mackinnon and Eyre, spent several days in scouiing the cinggyand wooded range of mountains winch sepaiated the head waters of the Buffalo River fiom those of the Kcislißinman. This range was always regarded as one of the chief strongholds of the enemy. The British columns, however, penetrated into every part of them, with hardly any opposition on the part of the Kafns, who were reported as becoming disheartened, and to have retreated to the most difficult fastnesses of the Amatolas. Their continued ill-success had severely discouraged them; and some of the wavering or hostile Slambio tribes had renewed promises of fidelity. Urnhnla had decbred his adhesion to the Pacific policy of Pato ; and Seyolo, who had been a severe sufferer through his defection, had sent in a message, entreating to be allowed to sit down. Pioper measures were taken to ascertain the sincerity of the chief in his new assurances. In other cases of patrol patties the same results occurred ; the Lraals and corn fields of the Kafiiswere laid waste, and themselves driven in despair to their distant fastnesses. But in one case a vigorous resibtanco was made by the rebels. Two columns, under the command of Colonels Mackinnon and Eyre, made a night inaich on the 1 (3th April, upon the Kciskatnmn. Colonel Eyre's column was furiously attacked by a large body of Kafir?, who, however, were repulsed with great slaughter —lso were killed, a large number wounded, 250 head of cattle ai.d 15 horses taken, villages and corn fields devastated, the rebels driven in uvory direction, and so thoroughly beaten, that though the tioops bivouacked in the yery heart of Stock's country, not a ehot was fired, nor did they venturo to appionch the column on its march to Fort White. During thp conflict a small party of the JJiitish was surrounded, and Adjutant Fletcher, 73rd legiment, and three of his troopers, were killed. Ensign Robertson, C.M.R., in pursuing the enemy too rashly, h.id four of his men killed; and Lieutenant Morn-., of Armstrong's horse, ■was dangerously wounded. The Cape Mounted Riflemen aie reported, in genernl oidern, " to have gallantly contributed to redeem the honour ot their corps, so recently tarnished by desertion." An important featuie in these rvonls had bpon the ai rival, at the Cape, on the morning of the 2.'nh of April, of the Peninsular and Onental .Steam Company's steamer Singapore, with detachments of the regiments now serving in KafTraua, to the amount of 800 mon. Thp Singapore also bionght intelligence of the intended immediate despatch of the 7<lth Regiment to the Capo, in the screw steam-ship Vulcan, 'lhe 3rd lkfla bad been likewise oidcred to hold themselves in readiness to proceed thitlu'i if necessary. Tho intelligence- of the. efficient measures so promptly taken by the llomi> Government for the relief of the colony, had diffused much satisfaction, and gitutly tended to ie-ebtablish cnnfnJenc. '1 he Singapore is desoibed as a splendid vessel, of j'32o tons (inclubivo of ongmo loom, &c,,) and of 500

hoisp-power. She loft Southampton on the 18th of March, touched at Sieu.i Leone un the 7th April, ,iml arrived at Table Bay on the L'ith, thus making the voyage in thirty-seven da; s, the shoilest voyage over known. Her tioops wore immediately Uansferred to H.M. steamer Dee, winch sailed on the ii[)lh for tho Uuflilo Mouth. At Williams Town intelligence had boon received fiom Kreh's countiy to tho iilst of April. Jt notified that Kreli, with tho whole of his tribe, had joined in the war ag.nnst the colony. Tlis fust movements \v<>n> f however, unsuccessful, as v\ ii 1 be found by tlie following 1 e:\tr.ict fiom the (J>iihuin\ Town Jouiiud, A])id '26 . "The Mission Station at licecham. Wood has been sacked by Kieii, and the war cry has been sounded fiom one end of the country to the other. The Mission Station of Butlerwortb, it was expected, would bo abandoned, although the traders theio were most anxious to remain so long as any chance remained of saving their lives and propeity. Kieli appears to have acted with consummate dupheitv, his last me.s-.nsie to Mr. Con way being of decidedly amiable chaiaclei, while at the very moment bo was piepuing to 'ake (lie field in person against tho colony. That t! is ib so, we have it from tho fact that m the rocont engagement on the White Kye, Kieli was present with a laige body of his men, who wero the first u> fly befoio the Jiiitish Burgher Forces — the chief himself bern« so mortified at the cowaidice of his men, whom lie endeavoured ineffectually to rally, that he wept with vexation, as well he might, on finding himself abandoned with onl^ a solitary attendant. Ife H said to havu been inconsolable, his attendant having some difhruity to inducu him to mount Ins horse and following fugitive adheients. Tt is affirmed positively, that no less than eighteen of his principal chiefs foil on this occasion, and tint tLo whole wore thiown, at the ve;y outset, into ,i .state of inextricable confusion, during which the dn, i himself naiiowly escaped falling into tho lands of our gallant men, who diove them, as stated in the account, liKo chaff before the wind. The Tembus (TambooLios 1 ) stood their ground .much better than the Ama-Galekas — the former continuing to fight until our men, on ioturuiug fiom. tho puroiiit, fell upon their rear and quickly routed them in all direction. Burns' (Booku't.) people weie with the Tomboos in tins siflair, and, it is said, suffered very severely. It is considered in Kafirland to have been one of tho most linpoilant and decisive engagements fougM duiiug this wat. Tho contest was an open one, and though the natives outnumbered our force by at least four to one, the result was never for a mGment doubtful. Tho charge of our Burghers was irresistible, and could tho puisuit have been followed up, the consequences must have boon most important to the colony, and fatal lo the enemy. It should bo borne in mind, that Kieli can hi ing into the field fiom .0000 to 7000 fighting men,-— one-half of them mounted, one-third armed with guns. But still we have no fear for the lesult, if every division of the colony will only follow the example of Cradock. The inhabitants of that district have behaved nobly, find have had a most praiseworthy example set them by its Civil Commissioner. The accounts received fiom beyond the Kye of the recent engagement under Captain Tylden, mentioned Mnjor-General Somerset as having tho command on that occasion, evidently supposing that his division was engaged ; whereas the only soldier in that action, sis far as we are informed, was Captain Tylden, the Commandant of the N.E. boundary, whoso arrangements soom to have been made with as good judgment as they were executed with great vigour. ltim> be mentioned also, to the honour of the parties, that tho Dutch formed tho greater number of the Buighers present, and that their steady gallantry is mentiom d in teims of unqualified commendation, and show that when tho Dutch and English work cordially together against the common enemy, they aro irresistible. From King William's Town we learn that Major Wilmot was out in the Keiskamma with a patiol of 900 men. Shortly after his departure, very heavy firing was, it is said, heaid in the diiection of his line of match, leading to the inference that lie bad fallen in with the enemy. At present no particulars of his movement have come to hand.

Sarawak. This settlement had been visited by tbe Bishop of Calcutta for the purpose of consociating a. newly erected church overlooking tho China Town. Oa the '2'2nd January tho ceremony of conseciatiou took place in the* presence of tbo whole European population, some native chiefs, and a numerous assemblage of Chinamen, Malays, and Dyaks. His Lordship discoursed on thp ! erection of such a building in the island of Borneo, and pointed out what he considered the most eligible plan for the conversion of the interesting population of that vast island. lie nlso eulogised Sir James Brookes exertions for tho suppression of piiacy. 'Iho various poitions of the service wern performed by the Veni'iablo Aichdcacon Pratt and the Itev. Messrs. Moule and M'Dougnll. The lnst-mentioued gentleman is at the head of the Borneo missions. As indicative of the rapid increase of trade in tins place, it is sufliciont to mention Unit a native trader left it for Jay.i, with a mixed cargo amounting to 25,000 dollars, a sum equal to half its total export tiado 111 1819.

Hi KM. 'I lip latest reports announced the death of (lie King, though the rumour w.'ih not alfoßftlH'r credited. Jt w.is thought that such an evonl would materially alt.-r tlio policy of tliu Siamuho Goveinmeut low aids that of I ndui.

SlVtJAl'flllE. Oulnigos on the Chrihtian Chinese by (heir lienthnn countrymen, at tho instigation of their Jloed or suciet societies, distuibcd the public peace to buch an extent,

that a portion of tho inhabitants appealed n*. if in n stuto of niburrectioii against tho authoniies. 'I lie heathen Chinese suomod bent on cinyingout tho.ir pecuhai customs and laws irrespective of tho paramount law of the island, and opposed interference with them xi et arvih. One ailmy was only •uippiifesed hy killing three of tho ringleaders , and tho |)olice having been found unequal to tlio cinoi»enoy, marines and sepoys vieip despatched to their assistance, hy wliicli combined agency peace was at length restored, but not before 1 the plantations of Christians, 2ti m number, were attacked mid pill ir>ed. Tlio Siu^.ipoio community had also miffoied from cliolen. '1 hero woie sevon cases on the 'Jlst Apul.four of which pioved i.it.d ; on tho i!Jid, twelve cases, of winch thifo tciminateil fatilly ; and on the 2ith but three, of winch only one resulted" in doatli. .Not less ternhlu tli.in the tliolcm vi.sitation were tho tiger inroads. In onn district alone many poisons had b"en killed by those annnala within a fw weeks, of whom four had fallen victims, to ono beast of prey within a month. Tbo (lovciniuent icward of .')() doll.iis, not appcinng ii bulliciont inducement to ml the island of tins ecouigo, a public spin ted person had olieied ,')0 dollars in addition lor tho in ,1 six killed. It was suggested t ii.it no time should bo lost in leviving the "Ti^ei Club" of ioimci ycais.

India. Mi. "\liicT»nv, who had been sent out by the Manchester (!l . amber of Commncc to lepoit upon tho obstacles which picvented an indented of cotton in India, had arrived in JJombiy in the beginning of February, and ou the 12th of tho t>ame month was received fit a bpoci.il meeting of the liombay Chainbei of Commerce. j\Jr. Machny, in a speech of considciahlo longili, developed his viov. s, st.stitig that tho object of Ins inisbion was lo asccitain (ho simple truth a-* to wh.it piovpiUed the inn eased i;iowlh of cotton in India, and it tho obstacle, whatover it might be, were not removable. '1 lie Fnaid of India was sanpumo that the rail-road would Lo earned fiom Calcutta to JJelhi, or even to Lnhoic. without interruption. 'J'ho tTinspoitation of hmopenn soldiers from India to Van Dioinen't. Land was m future to be commuted to linpiihonmeut m India. A prison was accoulingly to bo established .it Meorut, w hero &uch sontonces would be earned out.