CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 624, 26 July 1851, Page 4

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[From the South Australian.] By the papers received per Briton we have intelligence to the 13th April. In Kafirland matters were nearly in statu quo. Forts Cox

| and Hare were a strong bridle on the Kafirs under Sandilli, so that they could not maKe an incursion on the colony, and General Somerset on their flank was well prepared to receive them if they should make a forward movement. On the other hand the Com-mander-in-Chief was at King William’s Town, and was well supplied with every munition of war by way of East London, which new port has been of the most essential service, but the Commander-in-Chief was unable to make a forward movement on the insurgents, who would immediately take shelter in the Amakosa Mountains, as he could not leave a sufficient force behind to overawe the Slambie chiefs, some of whom were anxious for war, and would break out in his rear. Besides he could not implicitly rely on a great part of the new levies. It was said Sir Harry had written home for four additional regiments. It was evident the Kafirs were getting frightened, for they were fast removing their cattle into the interior, but still there was no appearance of an end to the war. [From the Adelaide Odd Fellows' Chronicle.] We have been favoured with papers from the Cape up to the 19th of April. The frontier post brings intelligence from head-quar-ters to the 9th :—

Kafir War.—The reports respecting the proceedings of Umhala and Kreli are more favourable than those previously received. It is reported now, as a known fact, that the Natal Zulus are really coming down, from 4000 to 5000 strong, and they are stated to be very near, if not already among the Tambookies. On Monday last a waggon was attacked about a mile from the station at Mount Coke, when the Kafirs succeeded in capturing the oxen and partially plundering the waggon. On news reaching the station a party immediately assembled, and being joined by a mounted force from Mount Murray, soon started in pursuit, but the Kafirs succeeded in getting into the bush and made their escape. The Kafirs and rebel Hottentots had carried off all the cattle from Fort Brown, and had made an attempt to surprise the Fort. General Somerset had returned from the Kat River settlement to Fort Hare. It is said that no further aggressive movements in that quarter are at present contemplated. Seven more of the Cape corps, being men to whom the Commander-in-Chief had restored their arms on their assurances of fidelity, have deserted to the enemy.

Graham’s Town, April 12, 1851.— The mail from the interior arrived on Thursday night. By it we learn that a sharp engagement has taken place near the missionary station at Wittebergen, beyond the Orange River. About 1000 of the Muzosis people attacked the station over-night, and were repulsed. The next morning the people turned out, and with the assistance of some burghers and military, who were still in the vicinity, went in search of the enemy, whom they found in order of battle a few miles from the place. Firing commenced, and the military, having with them a field-piece, with it did so much execution that the Tambookies were soon thrown into disorder, and fled in all directions. They were closely pursued, it was stated, over a distance of from 15 to 18 miles, and upwards of 200 slain. The defeat and subsequent rout were most complete; and what is most remarkable, all this took place without one casualty on our side. On Thursday evening intelligence arrived from Fort Hare, accompanied by Major Somerset. General Somerset had returned from his expedition to Eland’s Post, having accomplished nothing, and it is reported that no further aggressive movements will be at present attempted.

Information from King William’s Town had come to band, the chief point of interest being the following:—“Umhala finding that Pato was determined to stand by the English, had suddenly veered round, and sent back a message by Kreli’s messengers that he and Pato were one, and that his decision must be concurred in by him.” Intelligence had also been received from Butterworth, from which it would appeal that no further aggressive movements had made by Kreli, it being on the contrary bruited there that the reports made to that chief by Sandili’s people were of a discouraging character. They went to show that the Gaika Kafirs were getting dispirited, and were complaining about their severe loss of men and of the fruitlessness of their efforts to gain any advantage over the colony. It was also distinctly understood that a Zoolu force from Natal .was actually moving forward, and that this would be joined by 1,500 men, who had been collected in the intermediate country bv the British .Commissioner ■rynn. rhe latter was to start on the 20th ult., and his appearance, therefore, may be expected immediately in the rear of the Amagaleka territory.