Petition to Queen Victoria, from "the Native Inhabitants of the Location of Oxkraal, July 1887

(Handwritten, 2 pages)

July 1887

The Humble Petition of the Native Inhabitants of the Location of Oxkraal in the District of Queenstown Colony of the Cape of Good Hope

To

Her Most Excellent Majesty Victoria by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith Empress of India --

We your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subject the Fingos of the Location of Ox kraal desire humbly to approach your most gracious Majesty. We consider it the highest honour to be under your Majesty's benign sway and the subjects of a Government distinguished for justice mercy and all temporal and spiritual privileges. We are remnants of the once powerful tribes dispersed by Tshaka and prior to the year 1835 were scattered amongst the AmaXhosa tribes on the border of this Colony, but when your Majesty's troops led by the then Governor Sir Benjamin D'Urban, Lieutenant Colonel Smith and Colonel Somerset fought against the great and powerful AmaXhosa Chiefs Hintza and Hreli we asserted our independence became allies of the British Government and were finally permitted to enter the Colony and settle down in the District of Pedi and elsewhere. Thirty three years ago Parliamentary Government was conceded to the Colony and a fairly low Franchise was at last agreed upon viz. the occupation of landed property of the yearly value of £25 and for the last thirty three years we have been allowed the great privilege of recording our votes at Parliamentary elections on the same footing as our fellow countrymen of European extraction but during the present Session of the Cape Parliament the House of the Legislative Assembly has already a Bill that will curtail nay in most cases completely take away our privileges under the former just and politic measure. We therefore pray your most Excellent Majesty that in the event of the said measure, which is most obnoxious and quite adverse to our best interests as Natives passing both houses of Parliament Your Majesty, will exercise Your Royal Prerogative in our favour.

Your Majesty's loyal Subjects deeply lament to learn that the Delegates sent to the late Conference have come back with the intelligence that a distinct understanding if not actual pledges that no further Imperial interference so far as we Natives are concerned shall take place in the future. If this were true Your Majesty's loyal Subjects feel that they are doomed and handed over and sacrificed to their old enemy the Dutch. This intelligence fills us with dismay. We therefore pray your Most Gracious Majesty that the brave and generous English Nation and the British Legislature will not abandon us to the tender mercy of those that are stronger than we are. That Your Majesty and also your Majesty's children and grandchildren may still continue to enjoy the Divine Blessing we will as in duty bound ever pray.

1 The mark X of Zulu Zimuma Chief of the Abambo Tribe

2 The mark X of Hayimpi Kakaza Chief of the Amabele Tribe

3 The mark X of Gontsana Bukani

4 The mark X of William Maqula

5 The mark X of Jafta Msuzwana

6 The mark X of Sikulume Qundeni

7 The mark X of Mtwa Mnyengeza

8 The mark X of Flexis Zinqalwa

9 Thomas Matumbu Dunjana

10 The mark X of Mtshiselwa Kakaza

Source:

Karis, T & Carter G. M. (1972). From Protest to Challenge: A Documentary History of African Politics in South Africa, 1882-1964, Volume 1: Protest and Hope, 1882-1934. Stanford University: Hanover Press.

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