Monday January 6, 1879

Hamilton Hope’s Report

1. The Chief Umhlonhlo is the hereditary paramount chief of the Pondomise Tribe; and since the subdivision of the country into separate districts, has been at the head of the portion of the tribe which I have had the charge since the 1st July, 1878. He is a brave and warlike man, and far more out-spoken and straight forward than most other native chiefs; and as natural consequence he is somewhat impatient of control. I believe that before I came here he had not unfrequently offered a good deal of opposition to Government authority; and when I was installed as magistrate of the district he expressed great dissatisfaction at my appointment: but I am glad to be able to say that after one or two feeble attempts at opposing me at the first, he accepted the position I allotted him as in all things subordinate to me, and he has since then rendered me cheerful, and I may say prompt obedience in all matters, and has not only ceased all open opposition, but has greatly assisted me by advice and example to the people, in bringing about some sort of order and respect for Government authority in the district.
2. Crime – I am sorry to say it is frequent here, many cases of theft, and assault, of a more or less serious nature being reported to, and punished by me, during the six months I have been here; and I am at least glad that whilst I am aware that so many of these crimes are committed a large proportion of them are reported to me, as it shows that the people have confidence in the Government, and prefer their trying the cases to taking the settlement of them into their own hands. I do not, however, imply that all cases are reported to me. With regard to civil suits, I have as many cases to hear and decide on each Court-day as I can get through. And even Umhlonhlo has himself been a suitor, and has on three occasions appeared as a plaintiff in my Court; and I find that I have now seldom to take any active steps to enforce my judgments, for in almost every case, whether civil or criminal, the amount of the judgment is paid at once.
3. Hut Tax – I find that few, if any, people have paid their tax for 1877, and none for 1878, and even for 1876 many are in arrear. I intend, however, to enforce the payment of all arrears up to date.
4. Licences – There are only four trading-stations, of a very inferior class, in this district; but I have hopes that some merchant from the Colony may be induced to open a respectable and extensive business here, as it is much needed.
5. Timber Licences – A small revenue is annually derived from this source, but I have reason to believe that for want of proper supervision, timber is frequently cut and taken away without licences. I shall, however, take steps to prevent this for the future.
6. Roads – The roads in this district are for the most part good; and if a reasonable sum is expended upon putting them into thoroughly good order, it will require but a very small annual expenditure to keep them in repair.
7. Ponts – Two ponts are urgently required, at the Tsitsa and Tina drifts respectively, for as both these rivers are frequently impassable for weeks at a time during the rainy season.
8. Socially – I am afraid not much improvement has taken place amongst these people, who are wedded to all their old traditional customs and superstitions, and they appear for the most part to have profited but little from the few advantages they possessed; although in fairness to them, it must be said, that their position has been isolated, and they have, until lately, lived in such a constant atmosphere of strife, that they have not had many opportunities of seeing the advantages that are to be gained from civilization.
9. Religion – It is, I fear, still a sealed mystery to the majority of the tribe, who look upon it as an eccentricity of the missionaries more than anything else; but the energy and good example of the Rev. Mr. Davis, of the Wesleyan Society, who is Resident Missionary at Shawbury, are doing much towards breaking down the prejudices of these people.
10. Education – The Rev. Mr. Davis has several teachers actively engaged with infant schools at various places in the district; and at Shawbury there is, besides the usual school, a large girls’ seminary, where girls of all ages from five or six to eighteen are making considerable progress in the various branches of education: and I think that Mrs. Davis, and her able and accomplished assistant, have every reason to be satisfied with the progress they are making.
11. Generally, I have reason to feel hopeful for the future, as I find, the people far more docile and amenable to reason than I expected.

HAMILTON HOPE, Resident Magistrate, District of Qumbu.