§ MR. CROPPERasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received any official information confirming the published reports of the hostilities which are said to have broken out in Pondoland; whether requests have been repeatedly made by Umquikela, Paramount Chief of Pondoland, for inquiry into, and redress of, the grievances which the Pondos allege they have sustained at the hands of the Cape Government; whether, in particular, any reply has been made by the High Commissioner to a Despatch, reported to have been written in November 1881, containing a full statement of his complaints against the Government of the Colony; and, whether any steps have been taken to inquire into or redress these grievances?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYWe have no official information as to the reported hostilities in Pondoland. Full information as to the grievances which the Pondos allege will be found in a Blue Book presented last March; but I may say that their principle grievance is, that the Cape Government have extended a protectorate over the Amaxesibes, who occupy a part of Pondoland, and the hostilities now going on are directed against this tribe by Umquikela. I can find no record of any reply being given to the despatch mentioned which was handed by the High Commissioner to the Cape Ministers to deal with; but the Secretary for Native Affairs had an interview with the Pondo Chiefs very shortly after. Nothing further has been done in the matter as far as we know. No doubt, the Basuto troubles have meanwhile occupied the whole attention of the Cape Government.