I'm miles from France

Tuesday 23 September (supplement)

Tuesday: Information has come in of an attack yesterday afternoon by Hottentot banditti on the cattle on Mr. GOLDSWAIN’s farm of Burnt Kraal. These bandits, computed at about 40 strong, are described as being all dressed in levy clothing. They made their appearance about 5 o’ clock, and succeeded in getting off with some 50 or 60 oxen, after wounding severely two Europeans who, with a party of 18 or 19 Fingoes, endeavoured to defend the property. All these bandits were armed with guns and kept up a very heavy fire. Their haunt is supposed to be the noted Kingo, which will soon be cleared when Col. EYRE gets into work in this neighbourhood.
LOWER ALBANY
A gallant affair took place on the night of the 18th inst, at the Hope Farm, the property of mr. W. WAKEFORD, adjoining Cuylerville in Lower Albany. About 20 young English Settlers have formed a laager there for the sake of pasture for their almost famished cattle, chiefly working oxen. On the night in question a band of Kaffirs, supposed by the spoor to number about as many as the English, crept up very near their fires and poured a volley into them, but fortunately without hitting anyone. They (the English) immediately rushed to the cattle kraal, judging that it would be the immediate object of attack, and they were quite right in this conjecture, as the marauders quickly began to remove the fence, but were as speedily driven off by a volley, for which they were hardly prepared. On discovering the customers they had to deal with they instantyly decamped, leaving two of their number shot dead, and. As supposed by the blood spoor, some others severely wounded. None of our men were hurt, nor was a single head of cattle taken.

The Grahamstown Journal 1851, CO53/17 National Archives, Kew, London
Transcribed by Sue Mackay