The Cape and the Kaffirs: A Diary of Five Years' Residence in KaffirlandWard, Mrs.
History
The Cape and the Kaffirs: A Diary of Five Years' Residence in Kaffirland
Ward, Mrs.
South Africa -- History -- Frontier Wars, 1811-1878
are a tribe farther north than the Zoolahs. It has been determined to
march into Kreli's Country, in consequence of the discovery, that Kreli
has been the receiver-general of the enemy's plunder. The 27th have
been ordered from the head-quarter division at Fort Hare, to join
Colonel Somerset--Number 2 division--and advance towards the Kei.
Whether they will cross it, appears very uncertain. It is perfectly
well-known now, that, besides the Gaikas, Pato, Umhala, Sonto, Seyolo,
etc, have made Kreli's Country their depot for stolen colonial cattle.
"Sutu, the mother of Sandilla, has made her appearance at Fort Hare,
wishing to surrender herself, and to make intercession for her son. To
this latter request, the General has replied, he does not war with
women, and can enter into no negotiations with them. Sutu is an aged
woman, of a size that would befit the wife of a Daniel Lambert. She is
very infirm, and would have gladly have given herself up long ago, but
was not permitted by Sandilla to have any communication with the English
authorities. This young Gaika tyrant was once on the point of roasting
his mother alive! and she was only saved from this fearful doom by
British interference.
"Colonel Somerset has made two successful forays across the Keiskama;
and, besides re-capturing some fine colonial cattle, has brought the
I'Slambies to implore for peace. After the first expedition, Umhala,
Nonnebe, and Seyolo presented themselves with their abject and deceptive
protestations at his camp on the Chalmuna river.
"In the second expedition, from which he returned not many days ago,
four hundred head of cattle were taken, and the notorious Chief, Pato,
narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the troops, but concealed
himself in a cave. He has since sent in to beg that he may give himself
up, if permitted to do so. The Government will be puzzled how to act
towards him; he has been our most treacherous, troublesome, and
determined enemy.
"In the first foray two of the Cape Corps were killed, through their own
imprudence. They stopped to drink milk in a Kaffir hut, where there
were some women. The latter slipped away, and gave warning to some men
concealed in a kloof near the kraal, who, on learning that but two were
to be opposed, came upon them at once, and murdered them both. One poor
Hottentot, in his dying moments, brought down his Kaffir foe.
"In the second expedition, on the 24th and 25th November, the Rifle
Brigade proved a most efficient force.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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