CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GALEKAS AND GAIKAS, 1877–78.

Kaffraria and Basutoland lie to the eastward of Cape Colony. The Fingoes and Gaikas occupy the portion called British Kaffraria, or sometimes the Ciskei, and the Galekas, Griquas, Pondos, and other tribes, the Transkei, or Kaffraria proper. The Fingoes, whose name signifies “dogs,” had always been persecuted by the other tribes, and had been since 1835, under British protection. They are a peaceable race, wealthy in cattle, and in time of war are staunch allies, fighting always on the British side. The Galekas led by their chief Kreli, and the Gaikas under their chief Sandilli, mortal enemies of the Fingoes, who were formerly their slaves, and envying their prosperity resolved on attacking them, in hope of an easy conquest and plenty of plunder. The old Cape Mounted Rifles having been disbanded in July, 1877, the only Colonial force was the Frontier Mounted Police, little more than three hundred strong, with three field pieces, commanded by Charles Griffiths, an old British officer. On September 25th., 1877, a body of about five thousand Galekas, crossed the frontier, and fiercely attacked the Fingoes (about one thousand five hundred strong) and a small party of the Mounted Police, at a place called Guadana; but after a sharp contest, were repulsed with loss. A few days after, about eight thousand Galekas attacked the fortified station of Ibeka, held by Commandant Griffiths, with a 214handful of men, three seven-pounders, and about two thousand Fingoes. After a series of determined assaults, from ten in the morning till five in the afternoon, the enemy disheartened by their enormous losses gave up the contest and retreated. General Sir Arthur Cunningham, commander-in-chief of the forces in South Africa, a Crimean veteran, now assumed the chief command. Detachments of the 24th. and 88th. regiments were sent to the front, volunteers were enrolled for active service, and Commandant Griffiths, with three thousand Europeans, and five thousand Fingoes led by European officers, were ordered to invade Kreli’s country. Griffiths with two guns advanced, and after an action in which the Galekas lost one thousand five hundred men, captured and burnt Kreli’s kraal, but was compelled to fall back for want of supplies. The enemy were well armed with muskets and assagies, and fought with much determination. After a smart skirmish at Umzintzani, in December, the General resolved to cross the river Kei with all available force. The 88th. Connaught Rangers were ordered to the front, fifty men of the 24th. regiment were mounted as cavalry, and their band were utilized as gunners. On December 26th., the column started, the centre under Colonel Glynn, the right under Major Hopton, the left under Captain Upcher of the 24th. Each column had a gun or two, and to each was attached a small Naval Brigade, from H. M. S. “Active” and “Florence,” some of the Mounted Police, and one thousand Fingoes. Information being received that the Galekas now joined by the Gaikas of Sandilli, were concentrating in strength near the Kei river, Colonel Glynn, joined the Quintana Column, commanded by Major Owen of the 88th. at a place called Nynnuxa, and immediately advanced against the enemy. Colonel Glynn took command, Major Owen leading his column, which was in the first line, and Captain Upcher the second. In the centre were the guns, under Lieutenant Kell, and a rocket party of blue jackets under Lieutenant Maine, R.E. After a very sharp action, the enemy terrified by the execution done among them by the rockets, and the Martini-Henry rifles, (this being almost the first time they were used) broke and fled, leaving four chiefs of rank among the slain. The enemy then collected in great 215numbers in the Chickaba Valley, which is about thirteen miles long, and covered with a dense bush, so thick in some places as to render any movement all but impossible. On January 14th., 1878, two columns, the right under Colonel Lambert, and the left under Major Brown, both of the 88th. regiment, left Komgha, to attack Chickaba. The enemy for a time showed a bold front, but were shelled and driven out of the valley, and a vast number of their sheep and cattle taken. Soon after, another large body of Galekas and Gaikas, about four thousand, under Kreli and Sandilli, were repulsed with great loss in an attack upon Quintana, by the column of Colonel Glynn. The enemy fought bravely, and withstood and returned a heavy fire of rifles, rockets, and case shot for twenty minutes, at a distance of five hundred yards, but after this defeat they never again appeared in bodies in the field. On the day of the victory at Quintana, another was gained by Commandant Griffiths over a chief called Gongabele, who occupied the most difficult position in the country, and one which the Kaffirs had held during the last war, in spite of all efforts made to dispossess them. This position was carried, and the enemy routed, with the loss of five only of the attacking party. Soon after this, the 90th. Perthshire regiment with a field battery arrived from England, and on February 25th, Sir Arthur Cunningham was superseded in the command of the Army by General Thesiger, better known as Lord Chelmsford, as he succeeded to the title on the death of his father a few months later. Sandilli with a large number of his tribe assembled in the Perie Bush on the Amatola Mountains, in February, 1878, was defeated by a column under the command of Colonel (now Sir Evelyn Wood), who also made another successful attack upon the enemy at Intaba Indodo, April 30th. In these affairs Major Buller of the 60th. Rifles (now General Sir Redvers Buller V.C.), much distinguished himself. After a few more skirmishes, the war was ended, Sandilli^[77] was killed, and Kreli had previously surrendered. On June 28th., 1878, an amnesty was proclaimed for all except the sons of the first-named chief; and the Gaikas were removed to new settlements beyond the River Kei.

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