begin gardening. I had observed that Dundas had bought two spades when he came into King William's Town the night before. Sandilli thanked me much. He said the spade gives bread, but the spade is of no use without the garden; and the garden ground on the banks of the Kei is stronger and not so good as in their old location. I said, I could not help that, for I had no other land to give them. He thanked me again for the spades, and asked for some axes, which I also promised, and have ordered. I shook hands with the chiefs, and then got up, mounted my horse, and walked away, leaving them sitting, evidently pleased. I have since heard that this meeting has had an excellent effect in restoring confidence. I am convinced that with good-will towards them, at the same time with vigilance and the requisite power at command, the existing state of peace may be preserved without any serious interruption, for all time to come, during which the progress of civilisation in its natural course, not rashly pushed on by false policy, will render the task of keeping the peace more and more easy every succeeding year. I have given one of my horses to old Pato, who thanked me, and said I had given him legs. The poor old man suffers from an old wound, and cannot walk much. I promised a good bull, well bred, to Siwani, which I have for him, of an Ayrshire breed; and I gave old Nonebi, who is not so very old, by-thebye, and very arch, a South American "poncha," which I happened to have, of all sorts of colours. She put it on, and, no doubt, rode home with much satisfaction to her kraal. To Kama, whom I had not time to see, I have promised a house. A Missionary Institution, with a school of the Wesleyan Society, having been arranged for him in his new location (for he is really, I believe, a Christian), I have promised to build him a good stone house, as soon as he decides upon the site, which will depend upon the advice of his missionary, no doubt, as he likes to live near him. In the meantime, Major Tylden, of the Royal Engineers, is admirably carrying out my views in respect to road-making and defence in the Amatolas. Besides my military field works, I have already moral outposts in operation, one of which I visited at the Yellow Woods, on the verge of Sandilli's territory, and within it at Peel Town.* This has been restored by a Mr. Birt; and I saw at school, having arrived quite unexpectedly, upwards of fifty Kafir scholars, little children of all ages, but with at least six native teachers. I heard one class reading the Bible in English, and others learning their letters, &c.; they also learn to plough, and have seven ploughs going. Yours, &c., (Signed) GEORGE CATHCART. LETTER to Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN. Graham's Town, September 18, 1853. MY DEAR TREVELYAN,-I regret I have not time to write more at length; but my news may be summed up by saying that all is peace, and settling down as I could wish. I have now nearly done all I can ever do towards it, and hope soon to be relieved. Umlangani, the notorious Kafir prophet, is dead and buried-a good riddance. I have had a long and satisfactory interview with Sandilli and Macomo since in their new country. They would like to get back into their old country-now, the Crown Reserves, and under military occupation; but I told them they must not think of it, for I must keep it between them and the colonists; that it is as much my duty to keep the colonists from injuring them, as to keep them from injuring the colonists; and if I suffered them again to be in contact, little quarrels would begin and worse troubles, perhaps, ensue. I gave Sandilli twenty-four spades and twelve * His Excellency the Governor, it appears from a paper of Mr. Birt, dated April 15, 1854, subscribed at that time £10 for this establishment. pick-axes, and sent them home well enough pleased to cultivate their new gardens, for this is our spring. All is well everywhere else; not a single theft reported for the last six months. There never was a time when peace and security have been so complete all along the whole extent of the colonial frontier. I inclose a Memorandum of the Assistant Surveyor-General, whom I have got up from Cape Town, and established in a branch office at Fort Beaufort, to carry out my policy of filling up. Time will not allow me to say more. Sir George Clerk is at Bloem Fontaine, and I have no doubt will make a good job of his important business when he gets his instructions, but the delay is very inconvenient. You must not mind the open-mouthed clamour of the Cape press about giving up the Sovereignty. They are all interested; for the Sovereignty was to them-the English speculators—a great gaming-table, and, moreover, out of the reach of the police. Outlaws for debt in the colony are great land speculators in the Sovereignty; and the mortgagers in the colony, particularly at Cape Town, Graham's Town, and Port Elizabeth, say they have £50,000 at stake. No doubt a slice of the desert is good security for a bad debt. The Dutchman has no newspaper, and has not had time to open his mouth yet; but he is not of the same way of thinking. Yours faithfully, To Commissary-General MACLEAN. Graham's Town, December 11, 1853. MY DEAR MACLEAN,-I shall be much obliged to you to let me have an estimate in round numbers of the probable demand on the commissariat chest for service of British Kaffraria by itself, exclusive of the rest of the command, distinguishing the ordinary (I mean what the troops would cost anywhere else) from the extraordinary in all matters connected with the troops in Kaffraria, but not those refunded by the colony, and taking the force of regiments as they now exist at this time, which, although appearances lead me to hope that in due time some gradual reduction may be effected, is likely to be the permanent establishment for some years to You are aware that Kaffraria is about to become a Lieutenant-Government. Its ordinary revenue already more than suffices for its ordinary expenses. We have a balance of £17 on last quarter in our favour, and this without the customs of East London, which are a considerable source of revenue at present to the colony. come. Although we may not want to call upon the colony for aid from the Aborigines' reserve of £14,000 per annum for the Kaffrarian civil service, as the whole measure of this occupation is to fend off the Aborigines from the colonists, it is just they should be made to pay something towards the expense of the military establishment in due season, and considering the really good prospects of Kaffrarian increasing "inland revenue" and great improvement of the East London customs. Although it would be premature to make any estimate as to their prospects, I really think that the Lieutenant-Government will ere long yield a surplus available for paying some small portion of the military expenditure; and if it shall do so, it will, I believe, be a rare instance in colonial finances. Everything seems to prosper beyond my most sanguine expectations, and all our black neighbours are obedient and contented. Scarcely a theft or irregularity has occurred along the whole frontier, or in the Sovereignty, or in Kaffraria, for nearly a twelvemonth since the peace. I should like to have one of your little financial memoranda, showing me the state of our present financial affairs and prospects in matters connected with your department. (Signed) Yours very truly, GEORGE CATHCART. MEMORANDUM for the Information of the Commander of the Forces, showing the Reductions which His Excellency has directed shall come into operation from April 1 next, and the consequent saving to the Public:— For battalion horses at Natal For forage rations generally New contracts for provisions on the frontier Commissariat mule train, reduction in ration of visions Total per annum Graham's Town, March 4, 1854. GEO. MACLEAN, C. G. LETTER written to the Chief MOSHESH at the request of Sir GEORGE CLERK, by Hon. Sir GEORGE CATHCART, on the occasion of the withdrawal of H.M.'s Sovereign Rule, and his departure from the Government of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. Graham's Town, March 13, 1854. CHIEF MOSHESH,-I am about to leave this part of the world, and return to my own country, where the Queen commands my service in another capacity. When I entered your country, a vexatious warfare had too long prevailed between the people of European origin and the native tribes; and these were, in many instances, warring with each other, to the interruption of peaceful trading and friendly intercourse, which are things so necessary for the happiness and prosperity of all parties. I then made known, by proclamation, that I came amongst * Writers, issuers, labourers, and horses. |