318 APPENDIX, 
object was to attack the isolated farms and carry off the 
eattle. Intelligence of these proceedings speedily reached 
Graham’s Town, and reinforcements were instantly dis- 
patched to the frontier line. In the mean time a party of 
six farmers were attacked, and one of their number killed; 
various herds of cattle were swept off, and the whole country 
roused by the movements of the audacious plunderers. 
Certain information at length reached town, that the enemy 
had been seen in considerable force within a distance of not 
more than twenty or thirty miles; and it did not appear 
unlikely that a similar scene might be witnessed to that 
exhibited. in 1819.” 
Prompt and vigorous measures were taken by the inha- 
bitants for the protection of the place, and the security of the 
women and children. On the afternoon of Monday (22nd) a 
number of the most respectable householders formed them- 
selves into a mounted patrole, and during the night tra- 
versed the thickets as well as the heights around the town. 
The same precaution had been adopted by the military, 
sentinels having been placed by Lieutenant-Colonel Eng- 
land on all the prominent points adjacent thereto. On 
Tuesday the rumours were still more alarming. Five hun- 
dred and thirty head of cattle, and two thousand six hun- 
dred sheep had been taken from the farm of Mr. J. Howse, 
on the Fish River, and the messenger who brought the 
intelligence declared that a certain hill overlooking the 
farm was literally red or covered with Caffers. 
Mr. H. W. Henderson, a most respectable merchant 
of Graham’s ‘Town, and who happened to be out on a visit 
at the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. 'T. Mahony, was 
with Mr. Mahony cruelly murdered. He was, with the 
family of the latter, endeavouring to escape in a waggon 
from the farm to the military post at Caffer’s Drift, when 
