OVER THE KEI INTO HINTZA’S TERRITORY—WAR DECLARED AGAINST
HINTZA—HIS KRAAL BEING DESTROYED THE CHIEF COMES IN, AND
AGREES TO THE TERMS OF PEACE—HE REMAINS AS A HOSTAGE WITH
THE BRITISH FORCE, WHICH MARCHES BACK TO THE KEI—HARRY
SMITH MARCHES UNDER HINTZA’S GUIDANCE INTO HIS TERRITORY TO
RECOVER THE STOLEN CATTLE—NEAR THE XABECCA HINTZA TRIES TO
ESCAPE, AND IS SHOT.
From the Poorts of the Buffalo we marched up to the Kei, the right
bank of which was the great chief Hintza’s territory. Every overture
of a pacific character had been made this chief, but no satisfactory,
nor indeed decided, answer could be obtained. It was, in the first
instance, ordered that we should cross the river without committing
any act of hostility, but our sentries and picquets were to be most
watchful and vigilant, our avowed object being to recover the cattle
which had been so treacherously stolen out of the colony and driven
into Hintza’s country, and from which he would undoubtedly take a
considerable duty. The troops marched on to the missionary station of
Butterworth, close to one of Hintza’s great kraals.
The army remained here some days, constantly receiving shuffling
messages from Hintza. Here the whole of the Fingoes in Hintza’s
territories threw themselves on the protection of the Governor. These
Fingoes were once a powerful nation, but, being defeated in war, fled
to Hintza’s territories for protection, which he promised. However, so
soon as they were dispersed and powerless, he and his chieftains seized
all their cattle, and reduced the whole to the most abject state of
slavery. These were the remains of eight powerful nations.[101]
After a day or two’s shuffling, Hintza sent into camp his Prime
Minister, Kuba, a sharp wolf-like looking fellow, with the cunning of
Satan. I would back him eating beef-steaks against any devil. After the
Governor had given Kuba several audiences and patiently heard all he
had to urge in extenuation of Hintza’s evasive conduct, it was evident
he had not the slightest intention of restoring the cattle, or making
any reparation for the murder of British subjects early in the war, the
destruction of the missionary station at Butterworth, etc. Accordingly,
war was formally declared.
At ten o’clock our tents were struck, and the army marched [24 April].
A mounted patrol of three hundred cavalry were given to me, and some
Fingoes. I made a most rapid march on another of Hintza’s kraals, where
his great wife Nomsa frequently resided. I reached it just before
dark, and had a smart brush with the enemy and took a lot of cattle.
The next morning at daylight I pushed forward to the bed of the Upper
Kei, where information led me to believe a considerable quantity of
colonial cattle were secreted. I had a tremendous march this day, and
the heat on the banks of the river was excessive. At dark this night I
had captured 14,000 head of cattle, principally colonial. I ascertained
some months afterwards that these were Macomo’s booty. The next day I
joined the headquarters column to get rid of my cattle and to get some
fresh troops.
At daylight the following day I crossed the rocky bed of the T’somo,
very deep and rapid, and made a most precipitate march on Hintza’s
kraal. He was not there, but many of his followers were; his cattle
were all driven off. I immediately burnt his kraal—in Kafirland
regarded as the possession of his territory—the only kraal I burnt in
his country.
The rapidity of these inroads, the extraordinary extent of country
traversed by the troops with me, the burning of Hintza’s kraal, were
viewed by Hintza with the utmost surprise and consternation, and
this chief, who had treated with the utmost evasion and contempt all
previous overtures, on the day after his kraal was burnt came into our
camp with his son and court, a humble suppliant for peace and mercy.
A few years before, a detachment of troops under Colonel Somerset
had been sent to assist him against his enemies, and saved him from
destruction. He therefore rode into our camp in an undaunted manner.
(The poor savage always buries the past in oblivion, and regards the
present only. He has not the most distant idea of right or wrong as
regards his line of conduct. Self-interest is his controlling impulse,
and desire stands for law and rectitude.) The Governor, Sir B. D’Urban,
recorded on paper, in a clear and strong manner, all the grievances
he had to complain of, and the redress which he sought and would
have. Hintza, with about fifty followers, was immediately prepared
to enter into treaty. Kuba was not with him, but he had another of
his councillors, a man of great repute, Umtini. As the interpreter
translated the Governor’s statement paragraph by paragraph, Hintza
acknowledged everything. The demand was made for restitution of cattle
stolen and redress for all other grievances. Hintza asked to have till
next day to consider it, which was granted.
That night he dined with me, while a bullock was given for a feast to
his followers, one of whom acted as butcher. The slaughtering is done
with great ceremony, but it is horrible to behold. The ox is thrown on
his back. The butcher then makes an incision between the chest and the
abdomen, through which protrudes immediately a considerable portion
of the omentum. This is cut off for the great man of the party as the
most acceptable relish. The butcher then introduces his hand and arm
up to the very shoulder into the incision, gets hold of the heart and
turns it, the animal giving a terrific roar of excruciating pain which
is really appalling. But he is dead in a moment, the circulation being
stopped by the twisting of the blood-vessels. By this method of slaying
the animal, all the blood is preserved in the meat, which the Kafir
thinks adds to its flavour and nutritious power.[102]
Hintza, Umtini, myself, and the interpreter were together four hours.
I was never more astonished than by the ability with which Hintza
argued on every point and by the shrewd and cautious opinions expressed
by Umtini. The interpreter, Mr. Shepstone,[103] a very clever youth
of nineteen, was the son of a missionary. He had been born among the
Kafirs, and the language was as familiar to him as that of his father.
He was the only interpreter we had who could convey your meaning in the
Kafir idiom and in conformity to their usages and knowledge of men and
things. After all this discussion, Hintza said, “Well, I shall agree
to-morrow to the Governors demands in every respect.” He then left me,
having eaten enough for seven men. I walked with him to his people,
where the protruding omentum of the slaughtered bullock was prepared
for him. Curiosity induced me to remain. He ate every bit of this fat
fried lightly; there could not have been less than four pounds.
The next day a sort of court was held, and Hintza formally accepted
the conditions of peace offered by his Excellency. Peace was therefore
proclaimed, and Hintza went through the ceremony of despatching
messengers in all directions to collect the quota of cattle he was to
furnish, as well as to bring to headquarters the colonial cattle.
On one of my predatory expeditions I had taken a great chief, by name
Maquay. My A.D.C., Balfour, seized him and saved his life, and he was
a prisoner in our camp, and I had several others. I now released them
all, being very glad to get rid of their custody. If ever a savage can
feel any sensation approaching to gratitude, this chief Maquay did when
I gave him his liberty. He thanked me for his life, while he frankly
acknowledged that, under similar circumstances, he should have taken
mine.
Hintza’s promises were so strong that the army commenced its march [May
2] towards the ford of the Kei, since called Smith’s Tower, there to
remain until the conditions of the treaty were fulfilled. A deluge of
rain detained us some days. In daily expectation of the arrival of the
cattle, the army was as well in one camp as another. Hintza remained
with us, which gave us every confidence. When pressed to name hostages,
he said, “Oh, I shall willingly remain myself.” This act of frankness
was evidently intended as a cloak, and he meditated his escape. He was
frequently asking me leave to ride out to meet his people bringing in
cattle. This I usually refused. One fine sunny day he so pressed me
that I asked the Governor’s permission, saying that I would provide for
his security. Sir Benjamin D’Urban said, “Depend on it, he meditates
his escape”; for some days over the period stipulated had elapsed, and
not an article of the treaty acted on.
I sent with Hintza a well-mounted escort of the Cape Corps under a
Lieut. Wade, a smart, active and well-mounted officer. I directed him
to examine his pistols in Hintza’s presence, and the escort their
carbines, and to be most vigilant. Hintza endeavoured to lead him
into intricate ground, but Wade was far too sharp a fellow, and said,
“Hintza, riding about in this way is all folly. I shall take you
back to camp.” That very day Hintza’s and Boku his brother’s people
had commenced a general massacre of all the Fingoes near them who,
in virtue of the treaty of peace, had wandered from the camp. The
Governor, seeing the treachery and the absolute want of all faith,
became exceedingly indignant, and threatened to hang Hintza himself,
and Kreili his son, and Boku his brother, if an instant cessation of
this carnage did not take place. The fellows funked, and immediately
sent messengers scampering in every direction.
The same night, Hintza’s sort of confidential man, a notorious
thief and spy, came to me requesting a private audience. I said,
“Let him come in.” The sergeant of my escort, who always had his
double-barrelled carbine in his hand, made me a sign he would be at
hand. I then, alone with the fellow (a copper-coloured half-Hottentot,
half-Kafir, a strong athletic fellow), said in Dutch, which he spoke
perfectly, “Well, what do you want?” He began to abuse Hintza, saying
he was a robber, a traitor to his own people and to us (I saw by the
rascal’s eye there was mischief in it), and that he wished to serve
me. “You scoundrel,” I said, “you have been well treated by Hintza;
you now wish to desert him because you think he is in difficulties. I
will show you how Englishmen treat runaway servants.” I called Japps,
and desired him to give the fellow a good flogging and kick him into
Hintza’s camp. Japps was not long in obeying my orders, and soon came
back with a large clasp-knife in his hand. “There,” says he, “this fell
from under the rascal’s arm, and he has confessed Hintza sent him to
murder you.”[104]
We moved our camp from the bed of the Kei on the road. The Governor
began to think Hintza had no intention whatever of fulfilling his
promises, but he did not desire to bring him over the Kei a prisoner,
which would have been regarded throughout his country as an insult;
he therefore proposed that two of his comrades should remain as
hostages. Hintza would only offer two common men. The Governor then
said, “Hintza, I shall keep Kreili and Boku.” This startled Hintza
exceedingly, and he renewed a proposal to me which he had often made,
that if I would go with him and take troops, he would himself speedily
collect the cattle. After all our marches and exertions, it was as
annoying as unsatisfactory to recross the Kei without the redemption
of the colonial cattle. I therefore rather urged this proposal on the
consideration of his Excellency, who was always of opinion that Hintza
was playing false and that his liberty was his sole consideration.
“However,” his Excellency said, “it is a chance in our favour; you may
go with him, but, depend on it, you have undertaken a laborious task.”
I prepared, therefore, to march immediately, while the Governor
intended to cross over the Fingoes—an operation something resembling
the flight of the Israelites out of Egypt—and then to pass the troops.
I took with me—
50 Cape Rifles, under an old Peninsular officer, a Captain Ross.
2 Companies 72nd Regiment, under Captain Murray, who had now perfectly
recovered from his wound.
3 Companies 1st Battalion Hottentots.
15 of the Corps of Guides.
My A.D.C., Balfour, and my worthy friend Major White, the Q.M.G. of
the Burgher force.
Some commissariat stores of bread, flour, and spirits packed on oxen.
Hintza had been treated by me with every possible kindness, and always
affected to acknowledge it. He had been loaded with presents by the
Governor, and I candidly admit I had a feeling of kindness towards the
chief daily growing upon me, which I could not account for.
We were all soon _en route_ [10 May]. The troops had a very long,
steep, and winding road, the ascent from the bed of the Kei to the
tableland. Hintza, I, my A.D.C., and interpreter, with my escort of
Guides, rode on, dismounted, and sat looking at the troops climbing
the ascent. Hintza said to the interpreter, “Ask the Colonel in what
position I now stand as regards myself and my subjects.” I was very
glad he put this question, and in very deliberate terms and in an
impressive manner I thus expressed myself through the interpreter:
“Hintza, you have lived with me now nine days; you call yourself my
son, and you say you are sensible of my kindness. Now, I am responsible
to my King and to my Governor for your safe custody. Clearly understand
that you have requested that the troops under my command should
accompany you to enable you to fulfil the treaty of peace you have
entered into. You voluntarily placed yourself in our hands as a
hostage; you are, however, to look upon me as having full power over
you, and if you attempt to escape, you will assuredly be shot.[105] I
consider my nation at peace with yours, and I shall not molest your
subjects provided they are peaceable. When they bring the cattle
according to your command, I shall select the bullocks and return the
cows and calves to them.”
Hintza replied that he came out to fulfil his treaty of peace, and
with no intention to escape, and that the fact of his son’s being in
our hands was a sufficient guarantee of his sincerity. I replied most
emphatically, “Very well, Hintza; act up to this, and I am your friend.
Again I tell you, _if you attempt to escape, you will be shot_.”
Notwithstanding these specious professions, that very afternoon my
suspicions were aroused. I observed two Kafirs coming towards us with
five head of cattle. On seeing us, they stopped, and Hintza, without
asking my leave, sent a mounted man to them—as he said, to bring them
in; but, in place of that, the messenger and the others went off
together. My officer, Mr. Southey of the Corps of Guides, attached much
importance to this little circumstance. On closely questioning Hintza,
I received from him such evasive replies I began to think there must
be some little act of treachery, and I pressed him to define the route
which he proposed I should take. I could never get more from him than
“We are going right.”
I knew any chance of success in my expedition depended on the rapidity
of my march, for the Kafirs themselves would drive the surrounding
country as we approached. I marched, therefore, till dark, having
crossed the Guadan Hills that night. Before daylight the next morning
[11 May] I was again _en route_, and reached the Guanga late in the
afternoon. There I bivouacked and my men cooked. Hintza always ate
with me, and, with his councillor Umtini, lay near me at night. I
kept a very Light Division watch over him. After eating, I said,
“Now, Hintza, we are a long way in your country; I must know where you
propose to conduct me.” He was on this occasion very communicative,
and requested that I should march towards the mouth of the Bashee by a
route which he would point out, and that we should move at midnight. To
this request I readily acceded, having observed during the day’s march
all the cattle to be driven in that direction. At twelve I marched [12
May], keeping a very sharp look-out on Hintza, whose manner I observed
to be excited, and continued marching till eight in the morning, when
it became necessary to halt and cook.
At breakfast the chief appeared particularly uneasy and evidently
annoyed at the vigilance with which I watched him. He observed
peevishly, “What have the cattle done that you want them? or why must
I see my subjects deprived of them?” I said, “These are odd questions
to ask, Hintza. You well know the outrages committed in the Colony by
your people; it is in redress of these wrongs I march, and at your own
request.”
At ten o’clock I again marched. Hintza suddenly became in high spirits,
and observed sarcastically, “See how my subjects treat me: they drive
the cattle away in spite of me.” “Hintza,” I said, “I do not want your
subjects’ cattle; I am sent for the colonial cattle which have been
stolen, and which I _will have_.” “Then,” said the chief, “allow me to
send forward Umtini, my principal councillor, to tell my people I am
here, that they must not drive away their cattle, and that the cattle
of your own nation will alone be selected.” This proposal I immediately
agreed to, as it appeared to hold out some chance of success, although
I could not divest myself of the opinion that Hintza was meditating
some mischief. I particularly enjoined Umtini to return at night, and
this he promised faithfully to do.
Umtini quitted the line of march at full speed, accompanied by one of
Hintza’s attendants, the chief exclaiming, in high spirits, “Now you
need not go to the Bashee; you will have more cattle than you can drive
on the Xabecca”—a small river which we were rapidly approaching.
On my nearing the stream, it was found that the spoor or track of
the cattle branched off in two directions—one to the left, up a high
mountain; the other to the right, up a very steep, abrupt, high, and
wooded hill upon the banks of the Xabecca.[106] The river-bed below was
rugged, precipitous, and covered with brushwood. Hintza said, “We must
follow the track to our right; the cattle which are gone to the left up
the mountain are lost to us.” This desire of his I resolved to follow,
and crossed the Xabecca accordingly.
It had been remarked that this morning Hintza rode a remarkable fine
and powerful horse, which he spared fatigue by leading him up any hill
we came across during the march. On the opposite side of the Xabecca
the ascent was steep, precipitous, and woody. I was riding at the head
of the column, when I heard a rush of horses behind me, and called out
to the Corps of Guides, in whose particular charge Hintza was. I then
observed the chief and all his followers riding up quickly to me and
passing me in the bushes on both sides. The Corps of Guides called my
attention to the circumstance, and I exclaimed to Hintza, “Stop!” At
this moment the chief, having moved to one side of the track which we
were marching on, became entangled among the bushes and was obliged to
descend again on to the path before us. I drew a pistol, at which the
chief smiled so ingenuously, I nearly felt regret at my suspicions,
and I allowed the chief to ride on, preceded by some of the Corps of
Guides, his guards, who had pushed forward to intercept him if he
attempted to escape.
On reaching the top of this ascent, we found the country perfectly
open, and parallel with the rugged and wooded bed of the Xabecca
(calculated for the resort, cover, and protection of the Kafir), a
considerable tongue of land ran for about two miles and terminated at
the bend of the river, where was a Kafir village. On reaching the top,
my mind was occupied with the march of the troops up this steep ascent,
and I was looking back to observe their appearance, when the chief set
off at full speed, passing the Guides in front, towards the village
in the distance. Two of the Guides, active fellows, Messrs. Southey
and Shaw, set off, exclaiming, “Oh, Colonel, Colonel, look!” My first
glance showed me the treachery, and both spurs were dashed into my
horse’s sides, a noble animal of best English blood. The chief was at
least two hundred yards ahead of me, and for half a mile his horse was
as fast as mine. It was a capital horse in good condition, given to him
some months before by Colonel Somerset. After that distance I found I
rapidly neared him, and when within a distance of forty yards I pulled
out a pistol. It snapped. I tried a second, with equal ill success.
At this moment Hintza’s horse gained on me, and I found that in the
pursuit I had rushed my horse with such violence I had nearly blown
him, and that, if I must take the chief, it was necessary to nurse my
horse a little. In about a quarter of a mile I again closed with him. I
had no sword on, but I struck him with the butt end of a pistol, which
flew out of my hand. He was jobbing at me furiously with his assagai.
I rode upon his right to prevent him turning down into the bed of the
river, which I supposed (as afterwards it proved) was full of Kafirs in
waiting to receive him.
I was now rapidly approaching the Kafir huts, and the blood of my horse
gave me great advantage over Hintza. I tried to seize his bridle-reins,
but he parried my attempt with his assagai. I prayed him to stop, but
he was in a state of frenzy. At this point of desperation, a whisper
came into my ear, “Pull him off his horse!” I shall not, nor ever
could, forget the peculiarity of this whisper. No time was to be lost.
I immediately rode so close to him that his assagai was comparatively
harmless, and, seizing him by the collar of his karosse (or tiger-skin
cloak), I found I could shake him in his seat. I made a desperate
effort by urging my horse to pass his, and I hurled him to the ground.
My horse was naturally of a violent temper, and, from the manner I
had spurred him and rushed him about, he became furious. Having now
recovered and running on his second wind, I could not pull him up, and
he ran away with me to the Kafir village. I expected to feel a hundred
assagais at me in a moment, but all the Kafirs had gone down into the
river. I dropped the reins on one side, and with both hands hauled his
head round. I then spurred him violently and drove him right upon a
Kafir hut, by which he nearly fell, and I got him round with his head
the right way, viz. back again, and did not spare the spurs.
The Kafir’s fall created delay sufficient for the foremost of the
Guides, Southey, to approach within gunshot. Southey shot the Kafir
Larunu, and as Hintza was running into the bed of the river, called
to him to stop. At this moment I was within hailing distance, and I
desired Mr. Southey, “Fire, fire at him.” He did so from about two
hundred yards off. The chief fell, and I pulled up, thinking he was
knocked over. He was on his legs again in a moment, and so close to
the bush he succeeded in gaining it. I made instant arrangements with
the troops to invest as much of the bush as I could, in the hope of
intercepting him. In the mean time, however, with the utmost rapidity,
Southey and my A.D.C., Lieut. Balfour, 72nd Regiment, pursued him into
the bush, the former keeping up, the latter down the stream, when
Southey was suddenly startled by an assagai striking the stone or cliff
on which he was climbing. Turning quickly round, he perceived a Kafir,
his head and uplifted assagai only visible, and so close, he had to
recoil to bring up his gun. It was an act like lightning; either the
Kafir would send the assagai first, or the shot must fall. Southey was
first, and fired and shot the Kafir, whom to his astonishment he found
to be the chief.
Southey immediately galloped towards me. There was a cry, “Hintza is
taken,” at which I was not a little delighted, and I sent the sergeant
of my escort, Japps, to bring him to me in a rein or halter, but by
no means to treat him roughly. In a few seconds Southey reported the
melancholy truth. I say “melancholy” because I had much rather he had
been taken, but I thanked Southey for his exertions, and there was no
one act I could upbraid myself with as contributing to the chief’s
attempt to escape after the warning I had given him and the kindness
and respect I had treated him with, and after having, merely to please
him, marched, as he pretended, to his assistance.
I had the corpse brought up the hill carefully wrapped in the karosse,
and laid near the Kafir village with every mark of decency. I had no
tools, or I would have buried it. In the distance, with my telescope
I saw the confederate Umtini, and observed by his gestures that he was
exciting and calling together the Kafirs in all directions by means of
messengers running from hill to hill. This is their ordinary method of
communication, and it is nearly as rapid as our telegraph.