THE KAFIR WAR.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 628, 21 April 1852, Page 3

THE KAFIR WAR.

We (Sydney Herald), have received Cape Town arid Graham's Townsjournals to the 20th J aimaiy, and we have the gratification to announce that every prospect appeared, at that date, of an early termination of the war. The South African of the 20th of January says :—: — There is now a prospect of peace, and the Governor io in a condition to dictate the towns. The hostile chiefs have formally commenced negotiations, appaiently under pressure from the groat hody of their people, who are the principle' suffereis from the war, and who foresee that famine and death must .speedily ensue, should their crops he deployed in addition to the capture of their cattle.

Ifc was the opinion of Sir Harry Smith and Colonel Mackinnon, that this war originated with the Chiefs as distinguished from the people, who were represented as acquiescing in British rule, if not preferring it to the rule of their Native Chiefs. Events have shown that this view if not entirely fallacious, was for from being complete. The minds and hearts of the people arc as deeply imbued with the sentiment of Chieftainship, as those of the chiefs themselves, and any pressure upon their Chiefs is resented as a personal injury to the great mass of the population. The dLcontent of the Chiefs, therefore, is, in effect, the discontent of the people, with whom passive obedience is more than a theory. After referring to Earl Grey's views in respect to the Institution of Chieftainship, the writer thus proceeds :—: — The " social position" of the Chieis in their tribes, which Lord Grey wished to sustain for a time at least, was too suddenly and too ostentatiously assailed, and their authority superseded before any other authority had time to take root, and the consequence was, that at the end of nearly three years of British rule, their power and influence over their people seems to have been more complete and perfect than at any former period of their history with which we are acquainted. But besides this attempt prematurely to effect the degradation of the Chiefs, many other causes of discontent have been mentioned, as likely to have aroused the jealousy of the tribes respecting the future policy of their new masters, and prepared them for resistance. To one of these Lord Grey alludes in another despatch, namely, encroachments on territory, which he says he suspects to be a main cause of alarm and discontent among the border tribes. Thus to the apprehension that their chiefs were aboiit to be destroyed, was added the suspicion that their "country" would in the end be taken from them. Under these impressions, their " discontent," in the words of Lord Grey, "was natural at all events, if not well founded." Sandilli represented to them that " boundaries were everywhere being made," and that "their, country was dotted over with flags." It will be recollected that one of the first acts of violence that led to the war of 1840, was Sandilli's attack upon a surveyor or engineer's " flag" planted on his side of the boundary. In dealing with this people, it is difficult, but it is essentially necessary, to discover what interpretation they put on every act of their new rulers. Even amongst civilised nations the most furious wars have often arisen from a misunderstanding, where no evil was intended on cither side. Nor can it surprise any one, if the natives of Africa regard ihe planting of a flag by an European power, as equivalent to taking possession of territory, not merely as sovereigns, but as possessors of the soil, whic,h they thus assert a right to dispose of as may be most for their own advantage. The mind of a barbarous people is a peculiar study. Like every inquiry into natural phenomena, it requires close observation. No man has ever beforehand detected almost any of the peculiar turns of the .savage mind. A curious illustration of this occurred lately in India. At Bhagulporc, the Church Missionary Society had established a number of schools, which were well attended, but on a sudden they were almost deserted. No reason was given by the parents who had thus withdrawn their children, but the teacher at last discovered that it was because he had directed the names of the scholars to be entered in a book, on which the parents concluded that they were to be exported to Europe and their bodies used for the manufacture of oil! —Is it certain that the Kafirs have not entertained similar misapprehension respecting many of the novelties introduced among them by the Europeans dm ing the last three years ? A tribe in the interior not many years ago resolved to expel the missionaries, whom they had previously treated well and respected, because they hung up a bell over the chapel. They said, " the bell frightened away the clouds." These are only instances, or facts in the natural history of the human mind, which a prudent conqueror must study and respect, as carefully as a chemist must study and respect every property of a substance on which he is about to act experimentally. If he overlooks or despises the least of them, Nature, instead of obeying him, will fly in his face. This, it is probable, affords the true explanation of many political as well as chemical explosions, which reflect discredit on the hasty or imprudent operator. Suppose, then, that the Kafirs have at last been subdued, the colonists are naturally most anxious to discover the course which Government will be most likely to pursue with respect to them as a people. The Governor at present confines himself wholly to one promise : —on their submission he will spare their lives, that is the lives of the Chiefs. And Lord Grey, in the last despatch yet published, in which this point is discussed says, he relies with ! the utmost confidence on " your enlightened humanity, which will teach you that while, for the protection and future security of her Majesty's unoffending subjects, it is absolutely necessai-y that you should inilict severe and well-merited punishment on the rebels who have caused so much misery, still the savages ought themselves to be the objects of compassion for the ignorance and superstition which have led them to revolt." And this is all that is yet known on the subject. The following are the latest official documents which we have received. Head Quarters, Ki-ig "William's Town, 17th January, 1852. His Excellency the Commander-in Chief directs the publication of the following documents for general information. 11. L. MAYznvjsrx, Military Secretary.

Copy. King William's Town, 16th Januray, 1832. Sir, —l have the honour to acquaint you, that in obedience to his Excellency the Com-maitder-in-Cliiefs instructions, I marched from King William's Town with the force (as per margin —12th Lancers, 29 rank and file, 43rd Regt., 179, C M. Rifles, 75) at 1 p.m., on the 13th instant, and joined Major-General Somerset's Division at ? 0 o'clock that night, at Fort White. At 2 a.m. the next day I marched to the " Middle Drift" on the Keiskamma, in order to protect the cattle and waggons. Major-General Somerset directed me to return to Fort "White as soon as the cattle and waggons had crossed the drift, and on my way back at 4 p.m., I suddenly came in sight of some cattle grazing on the flats, about two miles from Fort White, to the right of the Fort Cox road. Tat once sent twenty C. M. Rifles under Ensign Thursby to seize them, and directed Captain Warren to hiipport him with his troop. These officers returned in a short time with 146 head of cattle, GO goats, and 8 horses ; three Kafirs were killed, and one wounded. On reaching Foit White, Mr. Baxter, a Commissariat Issuer, belonging to the Ist divion, told me that one of the captured horses was his; that he had separated from the column that morning, and had been seized by some Kafirs, who took his horse and coat, but had let him go after some time without doing him any injury. On the 15th, Major Kyle joined me with the. 4oth Regiment from Fort Cox. I marched this morning at i o'clock ior King William's Town, and just as 1 was starting a, Kafir, called Cobus, came into the camp with a saddle and jacket. lie told me that he had spared a white man's life a couple of days back, and that Sandilli h.ul ordered him to come and tell me so, and also to bring the saddle and jacket he had taken from the man, and to go to King William's Town to ask the Governor to give him back his

cattle, as he had spared the while man's life. I allowed him to come in with me, but told him he would not get his cattle, as we were at war. During Ihis patrol I scarcely s.-nv a Kafir, and this man told mo that the Kafirs were tired of fighting, and that tho ioails wore open lo us, and that he had spared the white man to show us that they wanted peace. I have, &c, Georgia Napier, Lt. Col., C M.lt. Commanding Pa(rol. Colonel Mackinnon, C.8., Commanding 2nd Division.

Geneual Order. — jSTo. 225. Head Quarters, King William's Town, 16Lli January, ISS-2. 1. The Kafir Chiefs of the Gaikas and Seyolo, have sued for peace, and on the march of .JLijorGeneval Somerset from King William's Town to Fort Hare, not only did not molest his column, but restored in safety a Mr. Baxter, Commissariat Issuer, who had by his carelessness fallen into their hands, nor did the Kafirs in any way molest the troops on their march to Fort Cox. Lieu L- Colonel Napier, C.M.R., in command of a reinforcement attached to Major-Gen. -Somerset, upon hid return fell in with a herd of cattle, which he very properly captured. The Com-mander-in-chief desires the troops are clearly to understand that no cessation of hostilities is yet ordered, and oflicers in command of posts and patrols are directed to be, if possible, more than usually vigilant, knowing as they do, the stealthy, treacherous, and murderous enemy they have still to contend with. A. J. Ci-oetj:, Q.M.-Geneial.

General Orders.— No. 226. Head Quarters, King William's Town, Jan. 17th 1352. 1. Licul.-Coloncl Napier, C. M. Hides, having been detached with 100 horse and. 270 infantry to Mippoil Major-General Somerset's Division, while passing the captured cattle over the Koibkama, has returned to head-quarters, having well effected the seivice entrusted to him and on his return captured 146 head of cattle, 8 horses, and a flock of goats — three of the enemy were slain in the skirmish. 2. Commissary-General Maclean having relieved Commissary-General Miller, will receive the allowances of his predccessoi. A. J. Cloete, Col, Q.-M.- General. With reference to the aspect of affairs in the Orange lliver Sovereignty, we also are enabled to leport favourably. The following notices will show that the Assistant-Commissioners have been successful in their peaceful mission :—: — December 23, 1851. The Assistant Commissioners having received through accredited messengers a communication from the Trans Vaal Emigrants, requesting permission to send delegates for the purpose of milking certain friendly proposals to the Government, and at the same time, and through the same channel, Mr. A. W. Petorius having expressed his sorrow for what has passed, and a hope that his outlawry may be reversed, consent not only to receive the deputation, but being satisfied that on late and other occasion?, the name of Mr. A. W. J. Pretorius has been made use of by the evil disposed, in order to ciente disturbances, without his sanction, and taking into consideration other important circumstances which will hereafter be mady manifest, do now reverse the outlawry of Mr. A. W. J Pretorius, and others. That the emigrants in times pa^t have suffered grievances, no reasonable pei .son can deny; that they in their turn ha\e committed many un justifiable acts, is equally certain. The Assistant Commissioners exjness a hope, that thh act of grace may be the stepping nn fir" and permanent understanding, which may tend to promote the happiness of all, and lead to a general x'econciliation. W. lloggr, C. M. Owen, Assistant Commissioners.

The Assistant Comnribsioners have (he honour to publish the gracious proclamation provisionally entrusted to them by His Excellency the High Commissioner : — Proclamation, hy His Excellency LieutenantGeneral Sir Ilenry George Wakelyn Smith, Baronet, G.C.B. Governor and Commanderin Chief of the Cape of Good Hope, &c, &c, &c. Whereas by my rroclamntion of the 22nd of July, IS4B, Mr. Andrics Wilhclmus Jacobus Pretorius is declared a rebel and a reward ofl'eied for his appiehension, I do now proclaim, declare, and make known, that the said proclamation is rescinded. And whereas by my proclamation of the *27tli of July 184S, Mr. TVilleui Jacobs is aLo declared :i rebel, and a reward offered for his apprehension, 1 do proclaim, declare, and make known, that the said proclamation is rescinded. And whereas by my proclamations of the 2nd and 7th of September, 184S, additional rewards are offered for the appi ehension of* 1 lie aforesaid A. W. J. Pretorius, and Mr. TV. Jacobs ,• and ■whereas by the said proclamations certain other persons, namely — Audries Spies, Lonw Pretorius, Frederick Bezuidenhout,andAdriaan Standcrs,are declared rebels, and rewards offered for their apprehension ; I do now proclaim, declare, and make known, that the said proclamations, in so far as they proscribe and oiler rewards for the apprehension of the several persons aforesaid are hereby rescinded.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. Given under my hand and seal, at King William's Town, this third day of November 18j1. H. G. Smith. By command of His Excellency the Governor and High Commissioner. John Carvock, Sec. to High Com.

From the Monitor, of January 27, we extract the following brief memoir of the late lamented Major "Wilmot, which will be read with melancholy interest by all parties in the Australasian group :— Mnjor Wilmot ft as the son of the late Sir Eardiey Wilmot, formerly Governor of Van Diemen's Land, and brother to Captain Wilmot., formerly in the Cape Magnetic Observatory, lie was a Brevet-Major of Artillery, and had been for some months past Commandant of Fort. Petlflic. Though n young man, he was possessed of great judgment, and lull of zeal and energy, of marked decision of character, peculiarly successful in attaching to himself the affection of his men, and was alwaya foicmost as well as unwearied in enduring great fatigue. He had been in the colony just twelve months — having, at the outbreak of the war, volunteered in Eng land his prompt service, as he had done on a former occasion at N"ew Zealand in the Maori war. He arrived here on the 12th of January last year, and accompanied the first body of volunteers, to tho frontiers in the Hermes on the 19th of that month. Few ollicers of his age (thirty) have evinced more decided marks of promise, ability, and courage. He has died regretted by his men, revered and beloved by his brother officers, endeared to the loyal hearted of the colony as one of its bravest defenders, and a loss to his country, to which he gave earnest, of doina: great and valorous service. He lived and died a soldier ; lot his requiem be breathed by each British heart — Honour and Kkst to tub Bkvvh! The Friend of the Sovereignty states, that Colonel Fortlyco, in his will, bequeathed a pension to the widow of every soldier who should fall under his command : a shilling- each per day to nil disabled soldiers of his corps, and left the means of purchasing commissions for his five most deserving Serjeants.