IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

APPENDED is an important document sent to us for publication by Chief UMHLANGASO J. S. FAKU, who holds the position of Prime Minister in Pondoland. It purports to be a reply to the speeches made in the Colonial Paliament on the famous Buntingville Vote. On this occasion, it will be remembered, the discus¬sion, though on the vote, hinged upon the burning question of the relatione of our Government with the Pondoe. We rendered the speeches into Kafir, and they were naturally read in Pondoland- We publish Chief UMHI.ANGASO'S manfesto with, great pleasure, ns we believe the more the relations of the Colony and the Pondos are ventilated in the public press the better chance there is of arriving at a calm and just settlement. In letting light upon their proceedings, we think the Pondoland politicians are taking a right and ccmmendable step. At present each move they execute is misunderstood, suspected, and not infrequently misrepre¬sented. We therefore hail this shred of light with much satisfaction. The letter runs as follows:— SIR,—Would you be good enough to allow me space for these few remarks ? To begin with. Government deserves thanks for withdrawing a grant in a terri- tory that does not belong to him, and among people who are not his I allude to grants for Emfundisweni, Rode, and Buntingville. We have all along been wondering why this money was being waited. We have no quarrel with the Missionaries, for their mission relates to the souls of the people. Government was beginning to give grants for education. He had not don© 00 before. Again we have nothing to say in regard to tbe tribes under his care, for it rests upon him to Caro for tbe orphans by grants for their education. Nor do we ignore tho value of education. The Pondos are at liberty to educate their children when they wish to do so, and pay for such education, It makes us hopeful when we see Government im¬pressed with the wisdom of letting alone wbat does not rightly belong to him. We are only surprised he does not perceive that the Xesibe territory dues not belong to Govern-ment, and that he has no right there, We have known tbe leading principles of Government to be that what is One man's should not be illegitimately taken by another. But we have the spectacle of Government taking what does not belong to bim as his own, and giving instructions respecting it. Govern¬ment himself builds gaols tv hold those who take what is not theirs. In this one he has robbed his neighbour. We have been under the impression that it is for the wolf to despoil, as it is a wild animal; but we see Government acts likewise. A few years ago our stock used to remain outside enclosures throughout tbe night without molestation— there was then no thief. Now our stock is being robbed through the action nf Government, who has led the way in throwing law and order to the winds We deny what we have seen in the Imvo newspaper that the Pondo chief is opposed to the Government. Nothing can be adduced to prove this. Government is opposed to th© Pondo Chief, for he is depriving him of his territory. Of what baa tbe Pondo Chief robbed Govern¬ment ? It is not true besides that there are many chiefs on the border who have applied to be taken under Government. I am on th© border. Umtola is on tbe border, Umaqutu is on the border, and we are near tbe Xesibes Government must not be mis. led by Qipn. He will never go over to the Government. What, moreover, is not true is the statement that the Xesibes will never be molested 00 long as they are under th© protection of Government. They will be touched. Many of them have died under thia protection, and will yet die. For Government has no right to be there. We respect three boundaries of territories abutting on Pondoland. Griquriland East, Bacaland, and Alfred County. These boundaries are genuine. Pardon me, Mr. Editor, for this long letter, I am a Pondo. UMHLANGASO J. 8. FAKU. Esihloyayaneni, Pondoland.