There is every probability of another war at the Cape.
The Government of the colony, with the consent, of course, and perhaps on the advice of Sir Bartle Frere, have ordered the disarmament of the Basutos, the tribe which furnished us a contingent in the war with Cetewayo. The head chief, Lestea, submitted, but his young men, declaring themselves insulted, refused ; and on the 21st inst., the Premier, Mr. Sprigg, announced officially that the Basutos were at war with the colony, and that a body of Cape Mounted Rifles had been sent into their territory. Should the Basutos gain any advantage, the insurrection will probably spread, until it will be once more necessary to ask the mother-country to protect the colonists from being overwhelmed by the dark tribes. Nevertheless, the colonists, though thus risking war, refuse to confederate,—that is, to build up a government strong enough to treat all the tribes in the same way, and to keep a permanent militia on foot. It is very doubtful if disarmament is of much value in keeping the peace, as the natives can use their assegais with more effect than firearms. Isandala was not won with the musket.
