rallying post in the midst of each of these villages might have effectually prevented that calamity, the intemperate and idle habits of too many of the class of British military pensioners, and a natural carelessness and contempt of danger, would render them unfit to be placed with safety in an Alpine district, the nature of which renders constant vigilance peculiarly essential to security.

Ordinary settlers could not be brought together in villages and compact communities, or collected simultaneously in sufficient number to form a settlement, neither could they be made amenable to the control and restraints essential to their own interests.

To place a concentrated population of the now dispersed race of Fingoes there is another expedient that has occurred to me. This people, who at present live in separate tribes, and have been scattered in distinct and separate locations, in order to avoid the danger of a powerful and united nation within the colony, have behaved always faithfully, and often nobly, as armed levies in aid of Her Majesty's troops in this war.

Their location in the Amatolas, under long-continued and powerful military support from Her Majesty's regular troops, might be practicable. But, should that support be withdrawn, or even reduced beyond a certain point, a war between the Fingoes and the Kafirs would immediately take place, in which the more powerful and warlike race of Kafirs, uniting in one common cause of national hostility, would be almost certain to prevail against the Fingoes, and be likely to involve the British nation in a war which would probably be more formidable and difficult to deal with than the present one; besides which, even should the Fingoes be able to maintain themselves, and fill the magnificent pastures of the Amatola districts with their cattle, they would be totally unproductive.

The Fingoes, as indeed do the Kafirs, keep enormous herds of cattle for no use whatever. They very rarely kill any for food; they make no trade in hides, and they will not even sell

an ox; but their object of pride is to possess the largest quantity of cattle, which they count and gloat upon as a miser does on his hoarded treasure.

Another expedient, however, suggested itself to me by accident, previously to my leaving England, and though I had not time to consider it then, and had not the advantage of local observation which I now possess, appeared to me to be so well worthy of consideration that I submitted it privately to Earl Grey, who also was of opinion that it merited consideration.

This was a project for raising two Swiss rifle regiments of 700, or, I should say, 1000 men each, with a view to colonisation after the war is ended; a sort of military organisation for mutual support and defence.

I will not add unnecessarily to the length of this despatch, which is already longer than I could wish, by entering into details of this project, for no doubt the only information I possess as to the feasibility of the plan, copies of which I gave to Earl Grey, are to be found in the Colonial Office. I, however, enclose a copy of a memorandum I gave to his Lordship on this subject, in case the original should have been mislaid.

From what I have seen, the country is so analogous to Switzerland, and so capable of feeding sheep as well as cattle on the most luxuriant pastures, and abounding with the finest water, I am convinced that such a colony, if it could be formed, would not only flourish and maintain itself, but prove the means of rendering this territory ultimately remunerative, instead of a burden to the British nation, and serve at little expense as a secure barrier for the protection of this portion of the extensive frontier of Her Majesty's South African dominion.

I enclose a printed copy of a Proclamation which I gave on assuming the responsibility of the government of British Kaffraria under martial law, the heading of which is new, and contains some provisions I have made for the more convenient

and effectual management of the affairs of this infant government, and to prevent any mistake as to its being as yet distinct from the colony, and under Her Majesty's entire control.

I have, &c.,

GEO. CATHCART, Governor and
High Commissioner.

The Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington, &c. &c. &c.

1. Whether it might be practicable to raise two battalions, of 1,000 men each, in Switzerland, with a view to serving Her Britannic Majesty, duly enrolled and under allegiance in Her Majesty's dominions in South Africa, under arrangements of which the following may be considered as the outlines.

2. Arms, rifles, made in Switzerland, of one uniform calibre would be desirable, such as the men are accustomed to use, but calculated for light voltigeur service.

3. Ditto, equipments of every description complete.

4. Clothing to be green or dark stone colour, and with no bright ornaments, but plain, suitable for light infantry.

5. The men to be young, i.e., between the age of twenty and forty, and for the most part married, and with small families not exceeding three children.

6. An assurance or certificate that each man knows the use of his rifle.

7. What would be the probable cost, including bounty on enlistment, journey to the "rendezvous" in England, at which they would embark for the Cape.

8. To have their passage provided for themselves and families to the Cape in good ships, with rations, &c.

9. To be entitled to pay, till the end of the present frontier contest, at the rate paid Her Majesty's regular troops, and for one year after at the same.

10. The families, as well as the soldiers themselves, to receive rations till the end of the present contest, and so long as active field service may be required, and for one year after, at the usual rates for Her Majesty's troops in the colonies.

11. Subsequently to have contiguous grants of land so apportioned as to secure the formation of townships sufficiently united, and so disposed as to ensure mutual military support for self-defence after the actual warfare shall have ceased.

12. The wives and children and property to be in security and good shelter until the time shall come for the formation of the settlements, with rations as above provided.

13. When the settlements are assigned, each man to have a couple of cows given him.

14. To be assisted by the Home Government in building their houses, also towers or blockhouses requisite for the security of each township, which last would be occupied militarily so long as may be necessary during the formation of the townships, either by a small portion of the battalions retained on pay, or by Her Majesty's troops.

15. That they should be bound, as the tenure of their property, to do military service for the protection of the frontier, and subject to such militia regulations as might be framed, but only for local service, and not to be removed from the neighbourhood of their townships so as at any time to endanger their security; and, when so called upon, to receive pay.

No terms are herein considered as to the officers. It would be desirable that they should be Swiss gentlemen, and that ultimately they should form the chief persons and magistrates in the respective settlements and townships, with powers to direct measures necessary for the common protection and security of their respective municipalities, and with all the rights and functions belonging to others of Her Majesty's subjects who are placed in a similar position. The particulars as to equipment, "rendezvous," passage, settlement, &c. &c., would be on the same principle as that above sketched as relative to the men; but a detailed project, embracing every particular and probable cost in these respects, would be desirable as a proposal for consideration and further adjustment.

The district of British Kaffraria, and especially the Amatolas, is peculiarly suited for this purpose; and, not forming part of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, but retained under Her Majesty's special control, and there being no colonists of British origin as yet allowed to settle in it, except within the reserved area of certain military posts, it would be perfectly easy to give to a national community of the description proposed the municipal institutions and laws analogous to those to which they are accustomed.

Proclamation.

By the High Commissioner of British Kaffraria, and Commanderin-Chief of all Her Majesty's Forces in South Africa, by virtue of the authority vested in him.

It is hereby ordered, that the Chief Commissioner of British Kaffraria, acting under the authority of the High Commissioner, shall, as regards the town of King William's Town and its surrounding jurisdiction, and the several posts where inhabitants of European origin are allowed to reside, be assisted by a Board of three or more officers of Her Majesty's service, to be appointed by the High Commissioner, in all matters which may tend to the maintenance of good order, the improvement of the place, its revenues and resources, and the condition of its inhabitants generally, provided that in all such matters they shall conform to the spirit and meaning of the following regulations, and abstain from all questions of a political or military nature, which rest on the responsibility of the High Commissioner or Chief Commissioner in the one case, and the Commander-in-Chief or senior military officer in the other. It being also understood that in all cases beyond what may be considered ordinary municipal matters, for which a general deputed authority may suffice, or such as may be already provided for in the following regulations, in which cases a special exertion of the authority of martial law being necessary, and the urgency of the occasion not conveniently admitting of previous reference to the High Commissioner, then, should the Chief Commissioner, or deputy during his absence, not be a military officer, or, being a military officer, not at the time senior in command in King William's Town, he will obtain the approval of the senior officer in command previously to any such act being carried into effect under the authority of martial law.

All money derived from licences, fines, or any other sources of inland public revenue whatsoever within British Kaffraria will be paid into the military chest at King William's Town, to be called Kaffrarian Ordinary Fund, and all money derived from the sale of captured cattle, or any other extraordinary source, being public money, will in like manner be paid into the military chest at King William's Town, and called the Kaffrarian Extraordinary Fund. No disbursements will be made from either of these funds, except on the warrant of the High Commissioner, or in his absence of the Chief Commissioner, or in his absence of the deputy duly appointed by the High Commissioner to act in his stead.