CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 732, 20 April 1853, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

(Abridged from the “ Sydney Herald,’’ March 22.) The Cape papers recently arrived bring news to the 25th January. The war with the Kafirs and the rebel Hottentots had assumed the appearance on the eastern frontiers of a guerilla war of predatory incursions, bands of the enemy suddenly pouncing on farms or parties of travellers, and committing great havoc and destruction; while when the neighbouring burgher forces assembled to the rescue, and traced the robbers to their lairs among the mountains, the latter generally fought desperately, the nature of the ground favoring them, and they were seldom driven off till they had inflicted death and severe wounds on several of the assaulting force. In this way Lieutenant Wright of the mounted police, was maimed for life by a ball in the back, in a skirmish with a band of marauders on the Konap ; a farmer named Mentz was mortally wounded in a similar skirmish; two brothers, named Dupre, were shot dead while travelling with their waggons, by a party of rebels under a man named Brander; a party gathered and pursued Blunder’s party to their lair in a gorge in the Zuurberg, and in the desperate skirmish that followed the leaders of the assaulting party, Lieut. Currie and Mr. Jan Bouwcr, were both severely wounded, the latter dying of his wounds; another party took up the pursuit of Blunder’s party, and finding their retreat, dislodged them, killing eleven men, wounding many more, and destroying his supplies, but the assaulting party lost their commander, Fieldcornet Ferreira, and four other men, while several were wounded. The western provinces were peaceable and prosperous, and the farmers were realising high prices for produce required for Australia. But the most important news is the defeat ot the forces of Moshesh, the chief of the Basoutas, in the Orange River Sovereignty, in the battle of Berea. It will bo remembered that the last news left the JGovernor, General Cathcart, encamped in Moshesh’s territories, with 2500 men, and insisting that Moshesh should immediately deliver up 10,000 head of cattle, as compensation to the boers of the Sovereignty for the cattle of which they had been plundered by his (Moshesh’s) people. Three days after Moshesh had had a personal interview with the Governor, his sou brought in 3500 head of cattle, but as no more were sent in, the Governor ordered his troops to advance on the 19th December, and on the 20th a combined attack was made in three columns on the Berea Mountain, where vast droves ot cattle were known to be collected. The Basoutas made a desperate resistance, their forces to 6000 armed horsemen, who were manoeuvred with considerable skill. As the British forces advanced they made desperate but unavailing charges on them in the plain, and when the force reached the slopes of the mountain, and ascended in order to secure the cattle, an equally gallant resistance was made by the Basoutas on toot. Ihe British columns won their way upwards, and on the first

column, Colonel Eyre’s, gaining the crest of Iho mountain, the Basoutas tied in all directions, great numbers being killed and taken prisoners. But they dispersed only for a time. No less than 30,000 head of cattle where found by the British troops, but so uneven and broken was the ground, and so unceasing and desperate were the efforts made by the Basoutas, ns the troops descended the mountain, to regain posessionof the cattle, that only 4,500 head of cattle and 55 horses were ultimately got to the British camp. r L he struggle, which was gallantly maintained to the very last, began early in the morning, and was not entirely over tieight o’clock in the evening. At no time during the struggle were the Basoutas able to throw the troops into disorder, although Colonel Eyre’s column, at one time in the afternoon, were surrounded by 7,000 or 8,000 Basoutas, through whom they had to fight their way. The behaviour of the British forces is described as admirable, never flinching, and throughout preserving the utmost coolness and steadiness. The loss of life was severe. The Basoutas are estimated to have lost 500 to 700 men, and the British lost one officer, four non-commissioned officers, and thirty-three privates, while fifteen were wounded. This battle decided the dispute at once. At midnight of that same day, Moshesh sent in a flag of truce, bearing the following message;—“ Thaba Bossigo, midnight, 20th December, 1052. Your Excellency—This day you have fought against my people, and tala n much cattle. As the object for which you have come is to have a compensation for the boers, 1 beg you will Ito satisfied with what you have taken. 1 entreat peace from you—you have shown yempower—■you have chastised —let it be enough, I pray you ; and let me no longer be considered an enemy of the Queen. I will try’ all I can to keep my people in order in the future. Your humble servant, Moshesh.” To which his Excellency returned a reply r , accepting this submission. His Excellency" shortly after returned with the army" to its former positions, near Kafirland, first issuing a proclamation that peace had been concluded with Moshesh, and authorising the boers to arm and assemble in their own defence, and for recovering their property, in necessary’. (From the “Empire.”) The news came down from the interior the clay the Resolute left (the 7<h February), that the Kafir war was finished ; that General Cathcort had been victorious, and bad taken prisoner Sey’ola, one of the most determined chiefs, also some parts of his household ; but, owing to the ship leaving the day" the news came down, it was not practicable to obtain any fuller accounts.