SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 285, 16 May 1857, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICA.

CRITICAL STATE OF OUR BORDER RELATIONS. Jgreat massacre or zultjs near the NATAL BORDERS. (From the Natal Mercury.) In our supplement last Friday we supplied all the details of the state of affairs in the Zulu country to the latest dates then received. Several respectable traders and others have since arrived from the border, and, from a careful collation of the several accounts furnished by them, we supply the subjoined particulars :—: —

We must premise that the critical condition of Zulu politics, and the preparations for a deadly contest, between Panda's sons, for the sovereignty of the country, became known more than a month ago to traders, in the course of their journeyings, and by them were revealed to the British Agent on their coming out of the country. Intimations of coming events (proved subsequently to have been in the main correct) were given in the local papers for several weeks past ; yet we are positively assured that Mr. Shepstone declared to traders on the border, that Government had no authentic information until the 28th ult., when a letter received from Mr. Schrseder, the missionary, apprised them of the state of affairs. It was not until Monday that Mr. Shepstone departed for the border, where he arrived some hours after the massacre. , And it does not ap-

pear that he was armed with any instructions* or authority to act;, pr that anydefensive measur.es had been-arranged,; but that he lemained seyeial 4ays in a state of dnactiom, -waiting for instructions from head quarters, to ; be forwarded on receipt of his information. He merely, as we are informed, distributed a portion of the refugees among neighbouring chiefs in the Umvoti district, and ordered cattle for their sustenance, until Government should issue orders respecting them. With respect to> the disarming mentioned last week, it was a very easy and unnecessary formality, since thecrowd of savages that came in were mostly without arms, having lost or thrown away all incumbrances in their desperate rush for life over the wide and swollen river; and vast numbers of them reached the Natal side bleeding and helpless.

It appears that the two armies of Kitchwya and Umbulazi came into close proximity about 7 or 8 miles from Tugela, the dividing river between Natal and Zulu land". The former was much the more numerous, being, it is believed, 20,000 strong. Umbulazi's force mustered about 8000. The latter chief had crossed: the river some days previously to solicit assistance from our Government, and he had been, properly informed by the British agent at the Nonoti that he had no authority to interfere. The chief left, declaring that if he were beaten he would throw himself on the protection of the English. Thus matters stood at the beginning of last week. Meanwhile num-. bers of Kaffirs were crossing and re-crossing-the river, and the various reports plainly shewed that a crisis was impending. About Monday, the Ist instant, a movement took place which, though dictated, no doubt, by good motives, was extremely injudicious — calculated seriously to endanger our relations with the Zulus, and which has actually resulted in complicating the difficulties and embarrassing the policy of our Government.

A gentleman who acts, we believe, as interpreter at the Agent's residence, and as a sort of Lieutenant to Mr. Walmsley, volunteered to cross the river, with a small body guard, to endeavour to negociate terms of peace between the belligerent parties. The proposal was unfortunately acceded to, and the Kaffir police attached to the station, with the uniform and arms supplied for their use by our Government, besides a number of Hottentots and other natives collected and armed for the purpose, proceeded on their dangerous mission — their leader (Mr. Dunn) being also armed to the teeth. The very appearance of such a force (it numbered 60 men) was calculated toirritate already excited savages, and it is not surprising that no answers were returned to repeated messages sent to Kitchwya with a view to open negociations — more especiaily if it be true, as positively affirmed, that Mr. Dunn and his men took up their quarters with Umbulazi, one of the contending parties ; thus> apparently at least, ranging themselves on one side, and therefore being disqualified and discredited as arbitrators between the two.

At length Mr. Dunn proceeded in person towards Kitchwya's position, when he was fired upon, and the ball passed near his head. On this the party was drawn out, and ordered to fire ; and thus commenced the horrors of the day. A Dutchman named Gouws (a settler in Natal) was professedly supporting Umbulazi at another point. Mr. Dunn's little party thrice momentarily repulsed the huge mass of Kitchwya's army, and gallantly stood their ground for a time ; but .against such terrible odds successful resistance was hopeless; and the whole army of Umbulazitook to flight, as well as the Dutchman and his party. ]S"o battle, therefore was fought, but the scene was a route and a wholesale slaughter. Mr. Dunn escaped on his horse ; but his party and- the whole of Umbulazi's army, had to run a distance of seven miles before they reached the • river, the further (that is the Natal) side of which, offered the only place of possible safety. Followed by a mighty mass of infuriated and triumphant savages, multitudes fell fainting by the way, and were quickly despatched by assagais, and multitudes more fell beneath the deadly thrust of that weapon while running for their lives. The women and children who had taken refuge in the kloofs and ravines prior to the actual attack, were enclosed and mercilessly butchered.

Still several thousands of men, women, and children reached the Tugela, and plunged into its swollen stream, where again the spear of. their brutal pursuers helped the deep and rapid current, in the work of wholesale de- - struction. The river was reddened with blood, , where it was not blackened with, the shrieking . forms of innumerable savages;, and some idea . of the number of corpses that shortly- encum- • bered the water may, be formed from the fact ; that they obstructed the'actipnof the oars, and j , the passage^of.the boat,- that conveyed the. few ■ '

who were able to avail themselves of it. Of Mr. Dunn's party of 60, only eight or ten returned to tell the tale of horrors, and the number of Zulus that perished by spear or water in this terrible massacre is estimated to be at least 6000.

Notwithstanding all this sacrifice of life fully 8000 miserable half-drowned, or wounded wretches succeeded in reaching the Natal side : and since the day of the slaughter Umbulazi himself (who at first was said to have been killed, but who, it seems, had succeeded in concealing himself) came over with one hundred of his followers, the remnant of his army, and is now under British protection ; as well as a lad, one of Panda's youngest sons. But during the events we have recorded, imminent perils, it may be assumed, befel the European traders who, with their property, were in that part of the Zulu country at the time. And, indeed it is marvellous if any of them escaped. As it was, one English lad, who, there seems no reason to doubt, was acting under Gouws, in hostility to Kitchwya, fell a victim, and it is said Guows own son also.

The English traders (who were entirely neutral) escaped across the river with the utmost difficulty and peril. But the whole of their property was carried of by the victorious army ; twelve waggons were entirely stripped and sacked, and no fewer than 1600 head of cattle belonging to the traders were carried off. Six of the waggons, with about 1000 head of cattle, had been taken in safety over the Zulu side of the river to an island in the centre ; yet, even here, on this neutral ground (if it be not actually British territory) they were emptied of their contents and the cattle driven off. The value of the property thus siezed is not less than £4000, whilst a large amount of the property and cattle of traders still remains in the interior of the country, at the mercy of the victorious savages.

We have the concurrent testimony of the most respectable and experienced traders, for the belief that but for the unfortunate attempt of Mr. Dunn and his party, clothed, in the apprehension of ignorant savages, with the authority of the British Government no white man's life would be endangered, no waggon plundered, and if any trader's cattle had been taken away in the foray, they would have been promptly returned on application. Up to the eve of the catastrophe, and during the known preparations, the traders had mixed freely in friendly and business intercourse with both parties, and the contained observance of a strict neutrality on our part, would, it is fully believed, have prevented any loss or danger to Englishmen, as well as the very serious complications which have now arisen.

(From the Natal Mercury, December \%.) THE ZULU "WAR AND BORDKR AFFAIRS.

We continue from last week the narrative of events on and beyond the border, as the accounts have reached us.

On Saturday a letter was received from the Nonoti (near the border) which stated that the banks of the Tugela at its mouth, and the adjacent sea beach, were covered with dead bodies, of which 500 were counted in a narrow compass— that the state of these bodies were most horrible, and the stench unbearable, so much so that no one could live in the neigh* bourhood.

Kitchwya had gone with a division of his army into the country, but left a sufficient force to guard the river banks, and carry on the work of death on all who attempted to escape across. The only ford not thus guarded is one higher up the country. That wholesale slaughter is still going on is shown by the fact that bodies continue to float down the stream in great numbers hourly. Kitchwya divided his army into three parts to hunt for fugitives and kill all whose loyalty to his cause is doubtful, among them, Panda himself is marked for destruction. The king's wife was covered with wounds, but still alive. .It is thought Panda had succeeded, temporarily at least in hiding himself. Umbulazi, the rightful heir and defeated brother, is not on this side the river, as reported, and it is believed he is still alive, concealed in the bush. No immediate danger is apprehended to this colony, and prompt decisive measures will with God's blessing, prevent any real occasion for alarm.

The Slaughtered Zulus — Sad tokens of the massacre continue to, appear along the coast. Numbers of dead bodies, in a state of dreadful maceration and mutilation, have been washed up along the beach, near this place, southwards, for thirty miles. They are found bearing horrible marks of the havoc of the assagai, though many are in such a state as almost to defy recognition, even as human beings.

His Excellency ordered the women and children, and the wounded men only to be brought over—the able bodied being strictly

forbidden to cross., Kitchwya's army is only a few miles from the border, and he is said to be

resolved on taking Umbulazi, alive or deadOn the other hand it is rumoured that Panda is raising an army, and may effect a junction with Umbulazi and the Amaswasi Boers. If this be true, the tables may still be turned on the brutal manslayer who has committed the recent outrages. Kitchwya himself is stated to have become alarmed, conscious, no doubt of the insult he has offered to the British GoGovernment. The missionaries in the Zulu country are reported to be in safety.

Mr. Finn, the experienced Kafir magistrate remains for the present, on duty at the Tugela.

(From the Cape Town Mail's Correspondent.)

DUrban, Natal, Jan. 31, 1857- ' The news respecting the Zulu war has been very scant of late, — the strife appears to have retreated into the interior of the country, which is in such an unsettled and critical state, that, at present, it would be the height of rashness to attempt to travel through it. Some letters have been received from parties who have crossed the border, and visited the adjacent districts and scenes of the late massacre ; they give interesting particulars respecting the appearance of the battle field, which appears to be now solely visited by herds of wild hogs and wolves, and other beasts and birds of prey. It must not be supposed, however, that the danger to the colony has materially decreased, or that the necessity for additional troops does not now exist: on the contrary, we require such a force as urgently as ever, and I trust there may be no doubt of our obtaining it. Now that the German Legion has arrived, the despatch of a few hundred troops from the frontier would be scarcely felt, and would be of essential service to us.

Our Government is exceedingly close as to its operations regarding the Zulu country, and no satisfactory answer can be obtained to the various enquiries and memorials which have been received by them. There can be no doubt that something must be done respecting the plundered cattle, else the honor q£ the British name will be for ever sacrificed among the native tribe of this part of South Africa. Our own Natal Kafirs are constantly enquiring when the English intend to recover their cattle, and if nothing is done, the effect on them will be most unfortunate.

Disturbed State ov the Frontier. — From the frontier we only learn for some weeks that nobody can tell what the Caffres are thinking about. They are slaughtering their cattle from mere superstition, and are said to be meditating the slaughter of the old men and women. Whether this is mere folly, or whether their is some ulterior design of war or emigration, is only matter of conjecture. Government is wisely making preparations for the worst. The horrors of Natal, among the Zulus, warn us to be on our guard against the lava of savage human nature. — Cape Town Mail, Jan. 22.

We regret to learn that the Horse-Sickness has appeared rather earlier than usual in some districts of the colony, and it is feared that Lung-Sickness among the cattle threatens another visit. — Ibid.