CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 668, 27 December 1851, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[From the Afe/fiownte Argus, Nov. 11.] We have received files of Cape Town papers to the 9th September. The news of the Bathurst gold discovery bad reached there, and waa exciting much interest. We append a few extracts from the Cape Toun Mail, of the 6th and 9th of September, relative to the Kafir war;— Graham’s Town, Aug. 30. —Notwithstanding the presence of a military detachment in our neighbourhood occasional depredations have still to be recorded, though they are by no means so frequent as they were a few weeks since. Mr. Palmer, of Cypher Fontein, has lost five more valuable horses, and Mr. Phillips, whose loss of p;rt of his cwtla waa mentioned lately, has now been

robbed of the remainder. In the course of the week, Mr. Miller succeeded in bringing down a lot of slaughter cattle from Cradock! but not without fighting for the possession of them. In the vicinity of the Fish River, they were one night assailed irom three different points by large numbers of Kafirs, but y cool and determined bravery they succeeded in repulsing the enemy, who was thus disappointed of bis expected booty. An offair has also taken place near Mr. Hannav's farm at Begelley, where he and his party discovered the hiding-place of a considerable houy of Kafirs and Hottentots, and, attacking them with spirit, drove them out, killed two of them, and obtained possession of many articles which were left behind in their precipitate flight.

We learn from a private letter Written just as the last post was leaving Port Elizabeth, and after the issue of the newspapers there, that the Hermes had just arrived from tbe Mauritius, with the 12th Regt, on board. these troops, when landed, have been ordered by the Governor to proceed to Graham’s Town, which will be their head quarters.

In reference to the close of tbe war we may state, that in the neighbourhood of headquarters, it is reported the Kafirs are about to enter on the war with renewed vigour. Thia does not look much like subjection or submission.

The inland mail arrived on Thursday at an earlier hour than usual. We understand tbe reports from the Sovereignty continue still to be of no favourable character. There bas been fighting between the Bastaards and Basutos. With the results we are not acquainted. The accounts from Somerset are still most disheartening. The Kafirs and Hottentots almost range tbe country at will; and the drought is most distressing to flocks and herds. The Hottentots are creating great alarm and anxiety at Graaff-Reinet. They were known » 0 have b een j n p rac _ ticeof assembling together in bodies, of course for no good purpose, and at length steps were taken, and about 200 of them were disarmed.

Nc pmic&’&r news came to hand yesterday by the Kafirland post. Notwithstanding the disappearance of tbe Kafirs from the Amatolaa, it seems that at Eland’s Post, and some of the smaller stations, they keep such a vigilant eye upon the movements’ of the people, that it ia f°r email parties to move out in any direction.

This morning intelligence has been received, that Mr. Stalls, who resides near Bushman’s River, while following his cattle, with which the Kafirs .-ucceeded in getting away, was shot through both legs. The 12th Regiment is on its way to town from Port Elizabeth, and last night encamped at Commando Kraal. They are expected here to-morrow or on Monday. Graham s Town, Sept. 2 —On Sunday, a detachment of the 91st Regt, arrived from Fort Hare, and pitched their tents near the burial ground. The nature of any particular service they are intended to perform we have not been able to learn. On the same day, two Hottentots, one of them a well-known corporal in the Cape Corps, were shot nearSelwyn’s Bridge, not far Mr. Pohl’s place, Carl Rust. The, 12th Regt, have not yet ai rived from Port Elizabeth, but are expected in a day or two.

By a letter just received from Somerset, we find that a commando, headed by Messrs. Bowker and Currie, is again out in that neighbourhood. The Kafirs aie very numerous and very troublesome there, and the burghers arc expected -o do good service. lhe Cape Town Post arrived at a comparatively earjyhour to-day. It reached town about eleven o’clock, Instead of on Wednesday evening, as has frequently been the case of late. Some disappointment was experienced at the non-arrival of tbe mail steamer. The post riders reported that they passed tbe 12th Regt, at Assagai Bush, about 12 or 13 miles from town.

On the day of the depart ure of the post, a very sa isfaetory affair had taken place between a party of Mounted Burghers and Cape Corps under Capt. Knight, and some of Seyolo’a Kafirs. It seems that on the afternoon of tba day mentioned f Saturday), an alarm was given that some of the Fingo cattle had been carried off by the enemy, and a party hastily collected started out under Capt. Knight. They galloped for about twelve miles, but not discovering any spoor, began to think that the Fingoea bad given a false alarm, a not very unusual practice with them. Not willing to return from an altogether bootless enand, the party entered the bush, and finding some Kafir women there, were in the act of questioning them, when some Kafirs were seen making off through the bush. Capt. Knight instantly gave chase with his men, and succeeded in coming up with them on tbe open ground, where a good many were killed*—ls dead bodies being counted in a comparatively small spacer of country. The party having proceeded soma distance frother, .on pulling up at a thickly woadad kfooff, discoi

vered that the enemy was collecting from different directions in great force. As our party was small, only 25 C.M.R., and a few burghers, it was deemed advisable to return, which they did, taking with them three of the enemy’s guns, all of which are regimental firelocks. '—Graham's Town Journal, Sep. 2 Wednesday, August 27. —Yesterday a very gallant affair took place between a party of the enemy and a few burghers, stationed at the laager at Layton, about 12 miles S.W. of Graham’s Town, under Mr. D. Hannay. It appears that information was brought soon after sunrise, that some Kafirs had been seen on the banks of the Kareiga, above Begelly, and a party of farmers, a few friendly Kafirs, in the service of Mr. Fuller, proceeded towards the point indicated. They intended to place themselves in the drift through which the enemy were expected to pass, but some time being lost in the disposition of the men composing the patrol, the Kafirs passed through, and when sighted had taken an open ridge, between two kloofs, where they had coolly lit a large fire, —twenty-one Kafirs were counted. Our men lost no time in attacking them, and very soon drove them into the shelter of the bush—two of them being shot, but whether mortally or not is unknown. At length, finding themselves hard pushed, they fled in all directions—their aim bring to reach the Buffalo Kloof, a dense bush branching down to the thickest of the Kowie. Before reaching this cover, however, a very spirited skirmish took place on the flat near the Kawie road—two Kafirs being shot dead, the rest escaping, favoured by the bush and rugged character of the country thereabouts. These are supposed to be the same Kafirs that attacked Mr. Dredge’s wagon, at Woest’s Hill, on Saturday last. Twelve assagais, &c., were taken from the enemy.