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
His Excellency remarked that there was plenty of land towards the Kei,
but Sandilla answered "He did not know that country; he was not brought
up there." "Nor," said Sir Harry, "were you brought up in the Colony,
into which you so lately found your way." Sandilla "wished to protect
both sides of the drifts!" "The soldiers will do that," was his
Excellency's answer. Umhala spoke his thanks, which had as much meaning
in them as Sandilla's, but Pato's were very characteristic of his
nation. "I thank you as a great chief," said he; "to-day you have taken
me from among the monkeys [Note 3]; to-day I may sit in the sun--I could
live under you before--to-day I can sit outside. There is the Chief;
(Sandilla); where we churn we take our butter; speak to him, that we may
listen to his word."
But the Governor interrupted him by striking the staff of peace
violently on the ground, exclaiming there should be no Chief but
himself, and, flinging the staff forward, made Pato, who trembled
exceedingly, pick it up, and lay it at his feet.
"Take to the bush again," said his Excellency, "and see how I will hunt
you out!"
Konah, Macomo's son, "thanked," and remarked that he "was a little
child, and had no place `to sit in!'" Macomo's absence at Port
Elizabeth [Note 4] prevented any decisive arrangements being made to
settle his people.
After all the chiefs had spoken, his Excellency again addressed them on
the subject of a fair division of the land, on the advantages of
industry, of their young people becoming servants, and of agricultural
pursuits; and, deprecating the love of cattle, he declared that each
disputed bullock should be shot, and threatened to "eat up" the idle and
the vicious. He pointed out to them the Kaffir police, which had been
clothed--"These," said his Excellency, "are not to hunt the good, but to
keep rogues out of the Colony;" and, in allusion to the recent murder of
a settler named Stanley, he offered 50 pounds reward for the
apprehension of the murderers, observing they should be "hunted out."
Colonel Mackinnon was pointed out as "The _mouth_ of the Governor," who
was to be obeyed, and listened to in the absence of his Excellency;
landmarks were promised, and arms demanded.
"Go to Kreli [Note 5] and Boko," said Sir Harry Smith, "and tell them
they are no longer chiefs. The Queen of England has sent me to keep
peace! peace!"
The word was taken up by the Kaffirs, and accompanied by shouts on all
sides. The Governor then bade them good bye, promising to be amongst
them again in thirty days. The National Anthem, from the magnificent
band of the Rifle Brigade, closed the ceremonies of this eventful day,
and "Peace! Peace! Peace!" were the last words echoed by the multitude
before the people separated--some to return to the Colony, and resume
their pursuits--some to wander back to the people of their tribe with
"the news."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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