APPENDIX. 327 
and a party consisting of about forty men, were instantly 
ordered to the spot. ‘This party fell in with the men com- 
posing the escort, on their way to the town; and it being 
too late in the day to engage in any more extensive operation 
than that of rescuing them, they returned to town. 
January lst, 1835.—It appears that the Chiefs, Pato, 
Cobus, and Kama, have not as yet declared against the 
Colony, but, on the contrary, have expressed a strong de- 
sire to continue with it on terms of amity. They have 
shown the sincerity of their professions by undeviating kind- 
ness to every Kuropean within their territory, and by in- 
variably affording them protection whenever it has been 
elaimed. It seems that many of their people are dis- 
satisfied with this line of policy, and ardently desire to share 
in the pillage of the Colonists. These refractory persons 
are daily deserting from their Chiefs and joining the ranks 
of the enemy ; and Pato, who exercises the supreme power, 
is exceedingly apprehensive of being deserted by his sub- 
jects, and thus left exposed to the vengeance of the con- 
federate chiefs. It is affirmed confidently, that were some 
little aid afforded to these chiefs from the Colony, they 
would not hesitate immediately to fall upon the enemy’s 
rear, and thus completely check their further progress: on 
the other hand, one word from these Chiefs, and the whole 
of these tribes immediately enter the Colony, and join in the 
general plunder and massacre. No one not fully acquainted 
with the customs of the Caffers can form a correct opinion 
of the power which the several chiefs exercise over their 
vassals. An instance of this has just occurred in the case 
of Mr. Roberts, a trader, residing on the Beka. ‘This 
young man was deservedly respected by the Caffers of that 
neighbourhood but when about to fly to the Colony from 
