Alrican News.

Colonist, Issue 10, 24 November 1857, Page 4

Alrican News.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

(From Cape Papers to the 22nd August.) Large numbers of Kaffirs had taken service in the colony. The official returns show that fully 10,000 natives had been registered as servants during the interval between the Ist of January and the 31st of July. In the latter month 2105 Kaffirs were employed on the public works in British Kaffraria.

The quarterly returns of the exports and imports of the colony to the 30th June, presented a highly satisfactory account of the prosperity of the colon)''. The exports for the quarter in 1857, are ; those for the corresponding quarter of 1856, £277,953. This increase is proportionate over the several items of wool, wine, copper ore, skins, hides, &c.

The number of vessels that entered inwards during last quarter was 226, and their tonnage 61,846 ; for the corresponding quarter of 1856 the number of entries was 214, and the tonnage 48,428. The news of the Sepoy rebellion in India had caused great consternation. Several of the regiments stationed in the colony were under orders for the seat of war. We find the following in the Mercantile Advertiser of the 22nd:—

' H. M. steamer Penelope, and the troop ship Belleisle, left Simon's Bay for India on Wednesday. The Ocean Wave, with a portion of the 89 th, will leave this day for India. On Thursday the ship Polonnaise, arrived from Dublin, (June 18th,) with a detachment of H. M. 95 th Regiment on board, consisting of 17 officers, and 316 rank and file, under the command of Major Reines. The 95 th was to have relieved the 89th in Cape Town, but under present circumstances, the regiment will proceed to India.'

On the 14th Cape Town was visited by an earthquake. 'It,' says the Advertiser, ' was felt at Wynberg, Diep River, all over the flats, and at Stellenbosch. In Cape Town, the earthquake approached with a deep, rolling, muffled sound, and gentle vibrations, increasing in intensity, until in their undulatory movements they shook the earth violently, causing the houses to tremble in every direction. After attaining their maximum intensity, they finally passed on, dying away in the distance. From several districts, and various observers, somewhat discrepant reports are received, regarding the direction of the vibratory wave and the duration of the shock. From the «*iote below, it appears that Mr. Maclear at the Observatory, estimates the duration at only fifteen seconds. One gentleman at Wynberg, and another in Cape Town, observed it with time-pieces, and their accounts agree that the shock lasted for upwards of thirty seconds. The direction of the wave, as generally experienced, seems to have been from the north or north-east across the bay, and passing southward under Table Mountain. It seems to have varied considerably in intensity in various localities, and to have been most violent near Table Mountain. Several families left their houses and remained outside during the whole night. In the bay the shock was felt distinctly by the shipping at anchor. ~a violent vibratory movement being produced, similar to that caused by the motion of a steamer. No swell was observed from the ships, but, on shore, the surf was heard to break with unusual fury against the rocks. The subjoined is a note received from the Astronomer Royal upon the subject:—

'Last night when in bed I was startled by a sudden tremulous motion of the bed and shaking of the window shutters, accompanied by a rumbling sound, which gradually increased for about ten seconds, and then diminished, the whole duration occupying about fifteen seconds. Perhaps the best conception of the phenomena would be derived from supposing heavilyladen wagons advancing towards the building from the Stellenbosch direction, and passing on with a rapid motion towards Cape Town. The moment the noise ceased I jumped out of bed, and found the time 11 hours 30 minutes, viz., half-past eleven, —also the sky brilliantly clear and the air perfectly still. From the first moment I became aware that the phenomenon was an earthquake, and I expected the sudden violent shock at the termination, like that experienced at the observatory 22 years ago, but it did not take place. The Observatory instruments were examined, but no displacement or derangement had been made in them.' The shock was also felt in Robben Island, over Tygerberg and Koeberg, the Paarl, Wellington, and Tulbagh. The Governor has announced by proclamation that a communication has been made to her Majesty's Government requesting that a competent officer may be appointed to invite, by publication in the London Gazette, offers for the construction of the railway here, and to examine and report upon all tenders which may consequently be received.

The Cape Town Volunteers were to be employed on garrison duty in the absence of the regular troops.

The Zuid Afrikaan gives the following very naive recommendation for the consideration of his Excellency the Governor. It is not stated whether the advice is given by a pater-familias or not.—' Wives for the German Legion.—Not long since the Gfermabia plainly told the Government that without wives it was impossible to expect the German settlement to thrive, and it therefore confidently hoped that the Government would have compassion on the men of the Legion, and introduce a supply. Perchance that grievance might now be removed. Cape Town is at present bereft of troops and the Royal Rifle's are doing garrison duty. Suppose his Excellency were to propose to General Stutterheim to send 200 or 300 of his. men to this place to do duty for, say three months, but upon condition that each one shall within that period take a wife; would such a proposal not be readily adopted, more particularly if the

urther condition be added, that in proportion as the men shall be married they will be shipped off to East London, and others

brought over to take their place and 'do likewise'? The men of the Legion abhor the dark complexion of the Kafir beauties in their proximit}?-—and they merit credit for their taste. The eye, as the saying goes, also wants to have something, and that something they would doubtless find among the many single young women of our poorer classes in Cape Town. Their being soldiers should be no obstacle to their happiness; and if it be explained to these young women that their intended husbands are soldier-colonists, have a comfortable home to bring them to,—are provided for three years by the government, and after that period will throw off the uniform—all scruples to enter into the blessed state of matrimony must of necessity vanish.

The chief Sandilli seems to have taken up his quarters at the Dohne Post (Stutterheim), where he may be seen daily walking about, rather respectably dressed, attender by some of his followers.

The quantity of copper ore shipped to England during the month of July, 1857, has been 40 tons 10 cwt.

The total amount of specie sent^from Cape Town for the service of the Indian Government is £110,000.