CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 283, 2 May 1857, Page 7

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

(From the Melbourne Age.)

We have files of the Cape Toato Mail and other journals, to the 14th of February. The news from the frontier still seems to indicate the approach of another Kaffir war. From Queen's Town we have letters to the 28th Jan., and we regret to say that the tone of them in reference to the Kaffirs is not at all encouraging. The state of Kaffirland is described in gloomy colours, and the strong tendency of the Kaffirs to war is spoken of with confidence. A communication before us from a writer of great intelligence says, " The Kaffirs cannot avoid war, and it is only power that will restrain them — and even that I fear will be outweighed by want of food. In my opinion the country was never in more imminent jeopardy, and though war may not be absolutely certain, it is difficult to see how it can be avoided. 4£he very stillness of Kaffirland at this time is ominous, especially when taken in connection with the continual efflux of the Kaffirs from the colony." From the Fort Beaufort division our accounts are of a more cheering character. For instance, a correspondent who is in daily intercourse with Kaffirs, and who understands their character well, writes under date of Thursday, "We hear nothing in the way of Kaffir news, and I hope the influence of Umklakaza is rapidly on the decline. Those about me seem to have lost all faith in him. since the report of his having directed that the old people should be destroyed." The crops along the frontier are described as unusually promising, and the hope of abundance is everywhere prevalent. Again on the 7th of February, a correspondent of the Journal writes — Kapfbaria, February 5. — Letters have come in this morning from the N\ E. Border, which dwell strongly on the great probability of Kaffir disturbance. Our correspondents state positively that so far from there being any abatement of the prophet's influence, it is vretly on the increase, and that the destruction oi cattle and other means of subsistence, is greater than ever. The excitement at first produced by the prophet's predictions has now settled down into conviction, and whatever he bids them do, however preposterous, is unhesitatingly executed. It is confidently asserted that the colony would have been invaded by the Kaffirs long ago had it not been for the timely precautions taken to repel it, the Kaffirs being perfectly cognizant of every measure in that - respect adopted by the colonial authorities. Nearly every Kaffir who was in the employ of the farmers along the N. E. Border have quitted service and returned into Kaffirland, .many of the colonists beuig without assistance of any kind. The Kaffir declare that their prophet has^actually raised from the dead two kraals, one of men and the other of horses, whicn may perhaps, account for, or be a key $0 the sudden* disappearance of Kaffirs and horses from' the colony "that has of late been the subject of sueh 1 frequent comment. ~ . ; . 4L4 L Such is a sample of, the "news" published in : all the journals up to the 14th of February., .'; :