IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

[FROM OUR NATIVE CORRESPONDENT.] November 5, 1885. The removal of Glen Grey natives is still the all-important and burning question of the day, in the Tambookie Location. In my last I stated that a Headman of the Guba Basin had started to inspect the Qumbu, he has now returned, and ' Your Own ' acted the part of an Athenian, by placing himself in the way of finding out whether ' some new thing ' was to be heard. At Tsolo he says he came across a piece of country he thought would do; but there was an individual right in the centre of that slice, whom he would like sent about his business. Building sites and gardens were pointed out to him. The gardens by the way have already been ploughed and seed making an appearance, at Tsolo, by people who will be allowed to reap those crops. This headman distinctly states that he is not migrating voluntarily, he is being driven there by what amounts to compulsion—any rate indirectly if not directly— upon his giving his word against removing to Qumbu the alternative of shifting to the Poort below Lady Frere towards the Xonxa was offered him, whereupon he fell on the present course of going to look round Qumbu. Well, if compulsion were defined for us we would be in a position of stating what the above action was. It is with reference to this point that we wish for an explanation. Mr. Innes' amandment it is said is being carried out. When it came out in the reports of last Session, we were not struck by any ambiguity in its manner of expression, but now that the time for action as arrived, we have reason to feel somewhat startled. Perhaps no better expositor of the amendment could be obtained than the mover. I assure you he would be conferring a great boon on those concerned. Whatever turn matters take, one' feels perfectly satisfied when convinced that he is being' fairly and justly dealt with. However, we have not studied Parliamentary etiquette; but if an explanation from that source would not be overriding the same we should be beholden to you. The point at issue is this:—Is it to be understood that the natives, even if unwilling to leave the places they now occupy, may be removed to any part of the Tambookie Location? in other words—are the natives located in the Guba Basin, not desirous to remove to Qumbu, compelled to shift to any other part of Glen Grey and be scattered throughout the Tambookie Location or squeezed into parts vacated by former occupants on account of their being useless ? The fact of more people joining the exodus cannot be denied; but let Government be acquainted of this, that they are not all bound for the Qumbu. A number is going towards the north into European Territory, woe betide the stock for which it is said they are moved from here to be out of the way of!! Others name Qumbu but do not intend going further than Tembuland. The inhabitants are tired of this suspense, this matter of removal has become nauseous, and the way it is freely circulated that they must go, is driving them to a conclusion they never dreamt of. Had less persuasion and inducement been used very few of those who have gone would have done so. Headmen exercise a certain amount of influence on the people and besides they have an idea that should they for any length of time continue to express a wish averse to that expressed by Government deposition will follow—and well they might—after certain cases that have come under our view. Still this headmanship is one of the greatest ambitions of their lives. Officials are aware of that and take no little advantage of it. Government does not possess a more hard-worked class of men and yet so ill-paid as these headman; however, we are going adrift, this ought to be a subject for another occasion. The issuing of titles for land is a matter now occupying no little attention in the location', there is at present no unanimity as regards the size to be applied for each individual, they are inclined to ask for from 10 to 250 morgen. By the way—a meeting is to come off to-morrow at Qoqodala, at which some of the Queen's Town people will meet headmen from this district on the subject of removal, and I think Mr. Frost will be there—so you see the matter is not allowed to pass unchallenged.