"September 13th. Sir Peregrine Maitland is moving with his division
towards the Fish River mouth. A report is in circulation that Faku, the
Amaponda Chief, has come down upon Kreli's country. This is not to be
desired. Faku is a man of immense power, with a great number of people,
who will be ready to creep into the Colony at all points for plunder.
"Among our allies employed with the army are 150 Bushmen, with poisoned
arrows. [It was some of these who were exhibited lately in England.]
The Kaffirs have great dread of these `new assegais,' which are barbed,
and cannot be extracted without additional injury to the wounds they
inflict.
"More intelligence has been received relative to Sir Andries
Stockenstrom's expedition to the Kei. The capture of 7,000 head of
cattle is cheering and important; but the treaty appears a sorry affair.
"Kama, the Christian Chief, has proved himself worthy of our confidence
and respect. With the few followers who have remained true to him and
us, he has been, as far as lay in his power, an active and efficient
ally in defence of the district to which he was driven by the threat of
assassination from his half-brother, Pato. Hermanus, too, has, I am
told, been true to us for many years; but of him I know nothing
personally. We were always glad to receive Kama in our cottage at Fort
Peddie. It is proposed to give these friendly chiefs the land in the
ceded territory, hitherto occupied by Tola and Botman--Gaikas.
"September 9th.--We learn that General Maitland has reached the mouth of
the Fish River; but he finds it necessary to contract the line of
forces, so to speak. Much impatience is manifested by people `sitting
still' themselves, at the delay in military operations. It is said,
`With such a force the Kaffirs ought long since to have been crushed.'
To use a lady's simile, a skein of thread is a simple thing to unwind
when fresh from the weaver's hands; but, when once entangled, it
requires time and patience to unravel it.
"Although the enemy are yet considered to be well supplied with powder,
their bullets are often found to be of zinc, taken from the roofs they
have destroyed. These are so light that they generally fly over the
heads they are intended to strike. The chiefs desire peace, but on
their own terms. Macomo has presented himself at Fort Cox to
Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, 91st Regiment. Sandilla is `in the bush.'
This wild child of nature dreads our making a prisoner of him. None but
Stock have as yet consented to give up their arms. Nonnebe (General
Campbell's great-grand-daughter!) protests that she wishes for peace,
but that Seyolo `has his hand on her shoulder, and keeps her down.'
Sonto, Stock's half-brother, calls Stock, `a woman;' and says he, Sonto,
is not weary of the war; he has plenty of men, horses, and plunder, and
will not give in. The `moon is dead,' and where is the promised cattle
from Stock? Colonel Somerset, with his division, consisting of the Cape
Corps, some Artillery, part of the 7th Dragoon Guards, and a detachment
of the 45th, has gone over to the Keiskama. The troops are to be pitied
in these rains; they must encounter difficulties and privations under
the floods that are deluging the land.
"Before Stock left Peddie, he sent the double-barrelled gun, which
Colonel Somerset restored to him at the Gwanga, as a present to Sir
Peregrine Maitland.
"A plan has been submitted to the Governor for the formation of
settlements and locations for the coloured population under our
Government. The intention is to take in a vast tract of land, and many
men will be required to protect so large a territory.
"The inferior Kaffirs must have learned by this time that their chiefs
have promised more than they could perform; they find that, although
they can harass and evade, they cannot `drive the white man into the
sea;' that, although they may occasionally stop our convoys, other roads
are readily thrown open. They steal our cattle, nay, the poor oxen die
in our service, on the depastured line of march, and lo! ships,
`sea-waggons,' present themselves on the coast of Kaffirland! It is
deplorable that the 73rd should be driven out of Waterloo Bay. There is
no safe harbour there for large vessels, but ships may slip their cables
and run out to sea, in case of danger. The 73rd, having made their
appearance at Waterloo Bay on the 3rd of September, and been driven back
to Simon's Bay, have landed at Port Elizabeth, and marched from thence
on the 21st. While at anchor in Waterloo Bay, they observed the
blackened state of the country on both sides of the Fish River mouth,
and some of them stating at Simon's Bay that the grass was burned at
Fort Dacres, and opposite to it, a report was raised in Cape Town that
Waterloo Bay was burned!
"Sir Andries Stockenstrom has given his Burghers leave to retire to
their homes, for the purpose of planting their land. The Malay force
have represented that their period of service has already expired; the
Burghers in the General's division have requested the same indulgence as
those under Sir Andries, and the liberated Africans will be making the
same demand. On looking at these latter happy, healthy, free creatures,
we cannot sufficiently rejoice at their freedom, however we may
deprecate the manner in which the emancipation principle was carried
out. Very different are these well-clad negroes to those who in old
times formed the West India Militia, to whom their officers addressed
the following words of command:--`All dem wid shoe and tocking tan in de
front; all dem wid shoe and no tocking tan behind; all dem wid no shoe
and no tocking tan in de middle!'
"A few nights since, the Malays held a meeting to celebrate the festival
of their new year. We were induced to look in at the scene of the
_fete_ for a short time. The only thing worth hearing was the war-song,
which, although very simple, is very inspiring, chiefly from the
enthusiasm with which it is sung. The choruses present many beautiful
combinations of a peculiar kind, from the circumstance of the singers
being ignorant of the rules of music. The group was picturesque. A
priest in white robes, in a posture between sitting and kneeling,
occupied the chief place at the head of the apartment, which was a long
low room, dimly lit, except above the mats whereon the singers were
assembled, without their shoes. This end was garlanded with flowers and
foliage, and illuminated by a not ungraceful lantern of Chinese
appearance, ornamented with coloured tapers. The priest, and his two
churchwardens, as they were called, were distinguished by green tufts in
their turbans, and led the chant, which was taken up and chorussed by
the rest with spirit.
"The other part of the room was undecorated; here and there, a solitary
candle on a shelf above cast a dim light on the head of some mustachioed
Dutch Burgher; and, beside him, in strong contrast, was the
comparatively slight English soldier. At one point, a knot of
Hottentots congregated together, joining in the chorus, and, snapping
their fingers, seemed ready to dance to it; while on the lap of a
dark-faced nurse, slumbered a fair infant, resembling one of Chantrey's
charming pieces of sculpture.
"Some weeks ago, a Malay was buried near this. The grave was very deep;
within it were placed a number of planks in a slanting position, forming
a kind of penthouse, and within this was laid the body, sewn up in
canvas cloth, and so placed as not to touch the side of the tomb. Some
biscuit, a pipe, and some tobacco were left within the penthouse beside
the corpse, and it was then covered in. The ceremony was closed by a
party assembling round the grave, and continuing in silent prayer for
two hours, at least.
"Colonel Somerset has returned from his expedition across the Keiskama,
having captured three thousand head of cattle. But for the heavy rains,
more might have been taken. The troops were in a deluge, and we hear of
many suffering from rheumatism, the effects of being obliged to lie down
actually in the mud, while a flood descended from the heavens. One
passage in Colonel Somerset's dispatch reminds one of Lord Hill's
surprise of Girard. `Making a night march with seven hundred and fifty
men, to the Gakoon river, I established myself at midnight in the midst
of Umhala's tribe, without their having the slightest intimation of my
move. Lying _perdu_ till day-dawn, I dispersed the troops in various
directions, and, although the enemy drove off their cattle and abandoned
their kraals, I pursued them to the Gonube River, and by mid-day had
secured three thousand head of very superior cattle, with a few horses,'
etc. In this affair twenty-two of the enemy were killed.
"Now, although no one is going to compare the Kaffir foe to our brave
but inveterate enemies in the Peninsula, a great deal more exertion is
necessary to get at them--as well as indomitable patience and
considerable skill. The idea of upwards of seven hundred men making
stealthy way into the midst of a savage tribe, in spite of spies and
watch-dogs, is wonderful, when we consider the difficulties attending a
march at any time in such a country; and the capture of cattle for
starving troops was a matter of more importance than a more glittering
conquest. Goethe, in describing a disastrous march in 1792, consoles
himself and his friends by affirming that they had been vanquished `not
by the enemy but by the elements.' Since the war began, the British
cause in South Africa has had to contend with every element.
"September 20th.--The Lieutenant-Governor, Colonel Hare, has arrived in
Graham's Town. Every one is acquainted with Colonel Hare's character as
a brave soldier. Of his abilities as a diplomatist he can scarcely be a
fair judge himself.
"October 14th.--Graham's Town is crowded with troops. The Drostdy
Square presents a very different appearance to what it did six months
ago, when the enemy was hovering round us. The second division of the
45th have commenced their march to the Fish River mouth. The 73rd have
just marched in; they have been indeed unfortunate on their way hither,
both by sea and land, and were nearly lost at Waterloo Bay, and driven
back some hundred miles for chains and anchors. They have been detained
between Algoa Bay and Graham's Town by the floods that deluged Colonel
Somerset's path. It is said the 73rd are to proceed eventually to the
Buffalo mouth, where a steamer will probably be sent with supplies. The
anchorage there will be surveyed: it is supposed to be superior to
Waterloo Bay.
"On the 30th of September, a meeting took place between the Gaika tribes
and the Deputy of the British Government, Lieutenant-Colonel Johnstone,
27th Regiment, at the request of the Gaikas. Mr Calderwood,
missionary, was present, besides several other persons. The scene of
the assemblage was `the bush.'
"The Governor's terms, offered and interpreted by Mr Calderwood, were
these:--Firstly. That the tribes should lay down their arms. Secondly.
That they should restore the colonial cattle. Thirdly, That the
country as far as the Kei should be placed under British rule--those
Kaffirs who remain on this side submitting to such regulations as may be
made for their future government.
"Macomo, Sandilla's uncle, appeared much dejected. He is the only one
of the Gaika chiefs who may be said to be really anxious for peace.
Some time since, he sent his eldest son an order not to fight. The
dutiful son replied, that Macomo was a `drunken coward, and only wished
for peace for the sake of the canteen.' At the meeting the others
expressed themselves pretty much as they had previously done. They
stated that they had never heard of a conquered people being called upon
to give up their arms: that they had bought them openly from British
traders [Notre]; that, as for the cattle, most of them were dead; that
they were tired of the war, and would not fight any more--they were
`under our feet;' that our convoys might move through the countries
unmolested; that we might slay the thieves now plundering the Colony--
they were a banditti under no control; and that, `if we were resolved to
continue the war, we must slay them at the doors of their huts.'!!!
Cunning savages! they know that British troops will never kill
unresisting men, much less the miserable tillers of the ground, the poor
women of Kaffirland, and they imagine we are yet to be imposed upon.
"As Mr Calderwood approached Beaufort, on his way to this peaceful
meeting, an assegai passed across him, thrown by the hand of some savage
assassin. Eight Kaffirs sprang out of a bush close by, and Mr
Calderwood and the Cape Corps orderly following him, galloped onwards
into the town, scarcely half a mile distant. Probably, two days after
this occurrence, these very men were among those `in the bush,' who
said, `their hearts were heavy; the teacher's word was no longer good;
they were under our feet,' etc, etc! or of that party which, on
encountering a detachment of the 91st, between Block Drift and Fort Cox,
threw themselves on the ground, and suffered the troops to pass on.
"There is, however, no doubt that the inferior Kaffirs are heartily
tired of the war, and suffering from disease, in consequence of
starvation, cold, and change of diet. Some are living on the sea-shore,
on shell-fish; this shows their state of destitution, as they have not
hitherto been accustomed to eat fish of any description. Many would be
glad to be under British rule; for, in spite of their old notions of
chieftainship, and habits of vassalage, they have discovered how
completely they have been misled and disappointed by their chiefs. Last
February, when the 27th appeared at the mouth of the Kowie, they were
extremely astonished; and, had they landed, it would have had a salutary
effect. The disembarkation of a regiment like the Rifle Brigade at the
Buffalo, in the heart of Kaffirland, would go far towards convincing
these heathens more than ever of the power of the `Children of the foam,
whose great sea-waggons from the broad waters spit forth red men.'
"October 19th.--The General's camp has been deluged. Colonel Somerset
returned from the Keiskama in the midst of torrents; the wind blew in
such heavy gales, that the encampment, after a tempestuous night,
occasionally presented a deficiency in tents. Here lay a sleeper
overpowered with fatigue, quite unconscious that his canopy was removed,
there a medley assortment of camp equipage, also shelterless, the tent
that covered it blown many yards away, and flattened in the mud. The
poor half-starved horses, with their tails turned towards the driving
rain, and quite crest-fallen, neighed joyfully on the approach of any
human being, in hopes of food. None to be had. The `Catherine' lies a
wreck upon the shore at Waterloo Bay, with little chance of saving her
cargo of forage, none of landing it for some time, if saved."
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Note 1. This sale of arms and ammunition to the Kaffirs was prohibited
by the Dutch Government, but had been tolerated by the Stockenstrom
treaties; it is now again very properly forbidden.