Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa since September 1795, Volume 1 (1908).pdf/292

262 A commando of five hundred farmers was assembled, but when everything was in readiness Colonel Vicars fell ill, and was obliged to remain at Captain Andrews' post. The command then fell to Captain Fraser. The advanced line was strengthened to provide against a rush of Kaffirs into the colony, and on the 2nd of December 1813 Captain Fraser with a mixed force of burghers and men of the Cape regiment crossed the border. The Kaffirs fled to mountain strongholds, and the country seemed to be abandoned, but after advancing some distance the commando was joined by seven men, whom Captain Fraser sent to Gaika with a demand that all the horses, stolen cattle, and firearms in his territory should be given up. They did not return, but on the following day seven others made their appearance, and were taken with the colonial force as prisoners that they might report all occurrences to their chiefs. One of them was shot subsequently when attempting to make his escape.

On the evening of the 4th Captain Fraser reached the Kat river, and next morning collected some two or three thousand head of cattle that had been driven into the thickets. From these he selected all that had brand-marks, and let the others go. He did the same at one of Gaika's outposts and at the abandoned kraals of some other chiefs, nowhere taking any but marked colonial cattle, and not destroying huts or property of any kind. The Kaffirs always fled as he approached, but two were shot. On the 7th the six prisoners were released, and the commando crossed the border again, with about one hundred and forty head of colonial cattle that had been recovered.

For a short time the authorities hoped that the Kaffirs would be intimidated by the knowledge that their country was open to invasion of this kind, but no such effect was produced on their minds. Seeing that only brand-marked cattle were taken, they concluded that to escape punishment it was only necessary to use greater care to slaughter stolen oxen at once or to drive them to a distance and exchange them for others.