A Kaffir prisoner, having been six months in the Graham’s Town gaol, was tried at the assizes in April, 1847, and acquitted of the crime of which he had been accused. Before leaving the box, he was observed speaking to one of the officers of the court. “What is he saying?” asked the Judge. “He wishes to know,” replied the functionary, “why he has been so long in prison, and afterwards brought here, as he has committed no crime.”
The Keiskama River was proclaimed the immediate boundary of the Colony; and between this and the Kei lies what “shall be called and known as British Kaffiraria,” to be held by the Kaffirs “under such rules and regulations as Her Majesty’s High Commissioner, or other Representative, who shall be the Great Chief of the whole of the said territory, shall deem best calculated to promote the civilisation, conversion to Christianity, and general enlightenment of the benighted beings subject to her rule.”
In order “to define and fix a certain line of boundary, that no dispute or disaffection might hereafter arise among the people on a question of right or occupation,” the lands appropriated to the different chiefs of their tribes received English names. The “Great Place” of Sandilla is now called York; the country allotted to the Amabala people, under Stock, Lincolnshire. The location of the Amagunuquebes, under Palo, son of Gasella, is named Bedfordshire; and Umhala’s district, with the I’Slambies, Cambridgeshire; another portion of the I’Slambies, under Tois, are settled “within the limits of the county of Sussex.” Tois’s own place is to be called Goodwood. The Tambookies, under Umtikaka (Note 2.) and Mapassa, are to be located to the north of Yorkshire and Sussex; and the various villages which are to be established within the limits of British Kaffiraria have yet to be defined.
The substitution of English names for the ancient and poetic denominations by which the Kaffirs have hitherto distinguished their abodes, is a necessary measure; but who can reconcile himself, at this juncture, to London at the mouth of the Buffalo River, on the borders of Kaffirland; York some forty miles distant, lying among the Amatola Mountains; Cambridge near Fort Waterloo, (late Waterloo Bay,) and so forth?
The 7th of January brought together another assemblage, from all parts of the frontier, at King William’s Town. The absence of Lady Smith, who had been present on that spot in 1836, was regretted by all who remembered her. Old Sutu presented herself at Fort Cox, when en route for the Buffalo, and begged some intelligence of “her mother.” His Excellency’s movements had been too rapid and fatiguing to permit of a lady’s accompanying him, and Lady Smith remained at Cape Town during the absence of her gallant husband.
At half-past nine in the morning the Rifle Brigade were under arms, awaiting the arrival of His Excellency. The Kaffirs lingered about the camp, talking in groups, and finally dropping into the semicircle, in front of which, as before, the Chiefs and great men stood. There were about two thousand assembled by the time Sir Harry rode up, and Páto, having desired the tribes to greet the Governor as a great Chief, the usual cheers arose from the throng as, dressed in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade, and wearing the star of the Order of the Bath, the hero of Aliwal made his entrance, surrounded by his staff.
The opening of the Governor’s address was well suited to the occasion, and to the character of his auditors. “My children, God, you see, blesses this occasion: your gardens were dry, and burnt up, and He, last night, sent you a copious rain.”
A prayer was read, in the Kaffir language, by the Reverend Mr Dugmore, a missionary, and, at the conclusion of this, Sir Harry Smith continued his address to the multitude.
Nothing could be clearer than Sir Harry Smith’s explanation of affairs to the wretched people now at his feet. He pointed out the line of demarcation between the colony and “British Kaffraria,” and again between that and the Amapondas, reminding them that henceforth there would be no more treaties; the Kaffirs were British subjects, holding the lands forfeited by their late aggressions only on condition of good behaviour. That at the great meeting, eleven years ago, he had advised them to be industrious and honest. “I left you,” said he, “learning to be English. Look upon yourselves now, and then see the miserable wretches war has made you! Where are the large herds of cattle of which I left you in possession? Fools!” and Sir Harry advancing within a pace or two of the Kaffirs, struck the ground vehemently with the staff of peace... “The great Queen of England has sent me back to you to show you that she has not thrown you away, if you still desire to be her children. Did I ever tell you a lie?” ... “Hear! I am your Inkosi Enkulu—no Kreli, no Sandilla, no Macomo... But I shall keep every chief at the head of his own tribe, and I will make English and good men of you. Now, you great chiefs, come forward, and touch my staff of office; the staff of war I have thrown away.”
The following oath of obedience was then administered, the Kaffirs holding the staff of peace with one hand, while two fingers of the other were lifted up, according to the custom of these people.