Forty farmers (Boers) have been killed in …
Years: 1836 - 1836
September
Forty farmers (Boers) have been killed in the Sixth Xhosa War and four hundred and sixteen farmhouses burnt down.
In addition, amaXhosa people have plundered fifty-seven hundred horses, one hundred and fifteen thousand head of cattle and one hundred and sixty-two thousand sheep.
In retaliation, sixty thousand amaXhosa cattle have been taken or retaken by colonists.
On September 17, 1836, with the signing of a new peace treaty, all the country as far as the River Kei is acknowledged by the Xhosa to be British, and its inhabitants declared British subjects.
A site for the seat of government is selected and named King William’s Town.
The end of the war leaves seven thousand people of all races homeless.
Having restored confidence among the whites by his energetic measures, Harry Smith has been appointed governor of the newly created Province of Queen Adelaide, where he has gained unbounded influence over the native tribes, whom he has vigorously set himself to civilize and benefit.
Cape governor Benjamin d'Urban takes far-reaching steps to prevent similar conflict in the future.
These are however not to the liking of the British minister of colonies, Lord Glenelg, who revokes all the measures and accuses the Boers of instigating the conflict.
As a result, the members of the Boer community loses faith in the British justice system, often taking the law into their own hands when cattle rustlers are caught.
Having reversed d’Urban’s policy, over the protests of land-hungry British and Afrikaner settlers, the ministry in London, to quote Smith's own words, directs the Province of Queen Adelaide to be restored to barbarism.
Smith himself is removed from his command, his departure being deplored alike by the Bantu and the Dutch; and numbers of the latter, largely in consequence of this policy of Lord Glenelg, begin the migration to the interior known as the Great Trek.
Locations
People
Groups
- Xhosa people
- Afrikaners
- Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
- Cape Colony, British
- Queen Adelaide Land District (British Colony )
