Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/95

 i877] The Ninth Kaffir War. 75 location. Each of these had a few hundred retainers, but neither was a man of much importance. When the war broke out Mackinnon had some fifty or sixty famihes of Amandlambe under him, and more than that number of Galekas were nominally his retainers also. He was then living close to Mapasa, and as long as hostilities were confined to the Fingos he took part in them, but when it came to fighting with Europeans he considered it prudent to desist, and therefore moved over the Kei and claimed British protection. He was allowed to reside temporarily with Mapasa, but he appeared to be so insignificant that very little notice was taken of him. His arms were registered, but he was not then required to surrender them. When Colonel Griffith had followed the Galekas over the Umtata and was on his way back, the honourable Charles Brownlee, secretary for native affairs, informed Mapasa that he must give up his arms and return to his old home, and to this he agreed, as he was unable to resist. He surrendered four hundred and fifty-four guns and two thousand four hundred and eighteen assagais before he left to recross the Kei. At the same time Mackinnon was informed that he must give up his arms and pay two hundred head of cattle as his share of the damage done to the Fingos, and that as soon as possible he would be sent to his former home over the Kei. He tried to remonstrate, and objected especially to be disarmed, but was told that the decision of the government was unalterable. That night, 19th of November, he and his people fled with all their belongings from their temporary residence, the Galekas among them with their arms in their hands back over the Kei, and the Amandlambe towards their kinsmen under Ndimba in the Gaika location. As soon as their flight was known some police were sent in pursuit, who overtook them just as they reached Ndimba's residence, and seized fifty-six head of cattle, about five hundred