Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/150

 130 History of the Cape Colony. [1878 five were made prisoners. On that day Tini was cap- tured by a patrol of Fingos three miles from Fort Beaufort, as he was trying to get into the Waterkloof again, where he hoped to be able to conceal himself and obtain the means of existence by plunder. He was in a miserable condition when discovered and arrested, but was able to put on the appearance of a stoic, as a Kaffir chief was bound to do. He was not by any means the best specimen of a Xosa, still he was not without good qualities, and though his conduct must be condemned, it should be remembered that it was the faulty colonial law that gave him the opportunity to act as he did. On the 29th of May a patrol of Commandant Lonsdale's Fingos when scouring a portion of the forest came across a party of Gaikas at Isidengi hill. Neither the Fingos nor the two white men leading them knew who the men they suddenly came upon were, and it was only some days later that it was discovered they were no other than Sandile and his body-guard. Among them was one in European clothing, with a good rifle, which he knew how to use most skilfully. Two of the Fingos were killed and four were wounded by him, before he fell a corpse. He was Dukwana, the son of Ntsikana, a man from whose influence much benefit to his country- men was expected before his chief went into rebellion, when he felt an obligation to turn against the govern- ment also. " He was a great man, he was faithful unto death," was the judgment of a Gaika upon him long afterwards. An Englishman cannot say this, but he can surely feel some sympathy with one who could brave discomfort of every kind and face death itself in the execution of what he believed to be his duty. Fifteen other corpses were counted before the patrol moved on, but one mortally wounded man was concealed by the surviving Gaikas and remained undiscovered. A week later a Kaffir, who was made prisoner, gave