CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 582, 1 March 1851, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

STATE OF THE FRONTIER. It seems positive that Kreiii will join Sandilli in an attack on the colony, should one be made—although it is believed that some of his chief councillors do not countenance his warlike propensity. We understand that this chief has sent away Faku’s daughter whom he lately took to wife, and did not slaughter cattle for the messengers who brought her. This circumstance may probably embroil him

with Faku, and thus be favorable to the colony. The Amaponda Chief should at once be conciliated, and it might be worth while for the Governor to send a special message with that view, There is probably a wellgrounded apprehension that the Tambookies will league with the enemies of the colony. Those tribes are discontented with the conduct of the Governor towards them with respect to their land, and it might be well if all grounll for animosity could be removed before the Gaika were attacked. The Tambookies in service in the Cradock district have all left. The numerous letters from British Kaffraria which we have seen and of which we have heard the contents, are all written in the same strain. They all speak of war as being inevitable. It is certain that plots to invade the colony were concocted without the knowledge of the British authorities in British Kaffraris. But it is satisfactory to know that their eyes are now wide open, and they are taking every precaution which prudencs dictates. We confess we cannot look upon the Kaffir police without great apprehension. We always objected to the employment of these men as a police ; and when at a time of danger like the present they are employed in patrolling the country between the Gaika district and the colonial froniier, one cannot help distrusting them. We sincerely hope that they may prove faithful. But supposing Sandilli, resolved on war, were to send officially to them to know what course they intended io take in tbe approaching contest, would it not be natural for them to answer that they were Kafirs and not Englishmen, and that they would join their countrymen. Tbe public will, however, be glad to learn that many, we believe most of tbe police, al least those belonging to the second division, have removed their cattle from British Kaffraria into the colony for security. This is undoubtedly a good sign. The districts immediately on the border are being fast denuded of inhabitants, who are removing their families and stock to a place of security. The country in some parts is said to be covered with sheep that are unable from fatigue and exhaustion, to keep pace with the flocks. In some places we are informed that as soon as a flock has made its appearance on a farm, the proprietor assembles his people and causes the animals to be driven to the next farm, from which they are driven in the same manner. The losses incurred by this removal of stock will be immense. As a sample it may be mentioned that Mr. Howse, since the 21st of last month, has lost more than one thousand'sheep—he caunot say how. — Frontier Times, 10th December. It has been already intimated that an express reached Graham’s Town from British Kaffraria on Tuesday, with the gratifvinff intelligence of the arrival of the Governor at King William’s Town on the 9th inst. —his Excellency bringing with him a reinforcement, consisting of detachments of the 73d Regiment and Royal Artillery—in all about 400 men. It is understood that tbe Hermes has returned to port for the purpose of taking in and bringing hither additional troops and munitions of war,

By the same opportunity the Commandant of British Kaffraria forwarded to Colonel Somerset the following communication :—- King William’s Town, Dec. 9th, 1850, p.m. Sir, —The accounts which I continue to receive from the Gaika country tend to confirm me in the opinion which I expressed in my letter to you of the sth instant, that the War party have failed in their endeavours to excite the people. Tbe people who rescued cattle from the Kaffir Police have sent in the fines demanded, but as they are unaccompanied by the fire-arms which were demanded, they have been refused. No communication will be held with the suspected Chiefs till the instructions of his Excellency the High Commissioner are received. I have the honor to be, Sir, &c., Geo. Mackinnon. Col. Comm, and Chief Com. Kaffraria.

On Wednesday a Proclamation by the Governor calling upon the inhabitants to enrol themselves for the general defence, and directing Col. Somerset to superintend the same, was promulgated. This was followed up in the afternoon by a numerously attended meeting of the inhabitants, at which it was resolved to enter upon the necessary organization immediately, and to tender to his Excellency the services of the inhabitants for the requisite garrison duty during the absence iu the field of the regular troops. Information was simultaneously received, that the inhabitants of Alice, Fort Beaufort and Cradock, had promptly responded to his Excellency’s first call, and were prepared to unite in defence of their respective localities. ‘ It is also understood that the farmers—or at least all who can be spared, will be prepared to take the field, provided it be understood that it is the intention of the government to deprive the authors of the existing commotion of the

means of disturbing the peace of the frontier in time to come. Nothing short of this will restore public confidence, or induce those who have abandoned their homes to resume their former positions. The appeal to arms is not to acquire territory, not with any view to the commission of an act of injustice, but simply to secure peace, and to mete out such a measure of punishment to the guilty parties as shall effectually teach the insurrectionary chiefs that the colony does not lie at their mercy, that the power will not be left to them of scaring the scattered inhabitants from their peaceful homesteads, of paralyzing all tho operations of industry, and of spreading, at any moment they please, dismay and ruin along the whole line of frontier. At this moment a large number of the inhabitants of the frontier are homeless fugitives, fleeing in alarm witn their hocks and herds, their wives and little ones—their course being marked by the dead carcases of their famished sheep —hundreds of which have perished from overdriving, and from scarcity of grass and water. The distress is heightened from the fact, that the country along the line of retreat is swarming with locusts, which, in their wingless state, commit the most fearful ravages wherever they make their appearance. From the Tarka we learn that in many places the corn now ready for the sickle will not be reaped. This arises from sheer inability on the part of the farmer to procure the necessary labour. All the Tambookie servants along that frontier have abandoned their employers, and have not scrupled to declare that their object is to join their chiefs in a war upon the colony, In numerous instances the wives and daughters of the farmers have to take charge of the sheep, &c., while in the field. Some are seen leading the fore oxen of waggons on the trek, and many unable to remove, are compelled to await, quite unprotected, the burst of the impending storm.— Graham's Toien Journal, Dec. 14.