Nongkause hurried to tell her uncle Umhlakaza, and, he helped to proclaim the visions.  To him and to others they were, no doubt, expected, and certainly they were welcome.  For what was their message?  Nongkause had it from the council of spirits, sitting under the water, a corner of which lifted to allow of communication.

Disease was making itself felt among the cattle that formed the main wealth of the Kaffirs.  However, the heroic chiefs who had long gone hence, were only waiting to return with endless herds.  These were of vastly improved breed, nor could any earthly sickness harm them.  From the unknown, there would also arrive all manner of desirable things; no Kaffir could even imagine them.  Finally, those who were to bring the lustrous Kaffraria would march before a giant army.  By it, the white would be driven into the sea, and Kaffir rule would direct a Kaffir land.

It was a queen’s speech, indeed, that Nongkause put forth; yet there were conditions attached.  Before anything could happen, the Kaffirs must destroy their own cattle, grain, and other belongings, to the uttermost.  The chief who had many oxen must slaughter them, and throw the bodies to the wild beasts.  The clansman who had a little store of corn must straight way destroy it.  Even the kraals, which gave shelter from the elements, were to be burned down, as if an enemy were being pillaged.  Otherwise the new heaven would not appear; while the starry heaven above, would fall and destroy the disobedient.

‘When I heard of the movement,’ Sir George Grey narrated, ’I at once hurried north to grapple with it.  I could not have believed it so serious, until I was actually on the spot.  Kaffraria was in a ferment, and a wave of destruction might roll from it across Cape Colony.  Here were nearly a quarter of a million of Kaffirs, a large proportion of whom were busy acting upon the advice of the prophetess.  They were destroying their cattle and produce, and looking forward eagerly to a triumph over the whites.

’I went among the chiefs, although warned that I endangered myself unduly, hoping to check the movement.  However, it was useless to talk to natives aflame with superstition and passion.  Those who doubted the prophetess, would do nothing to keep within bounds the majority who accepted her as a divinity.  Yet, the chiefs invariably received me with kindness, and thanked me for the counsel I gave them.  Simply, they could not accept it.’

The Governor adopted every means to place the borders of Cape Colony in a state of military security.  As one detail he had to ensure that, in the event of war, the frontier settlers should not be massacred.  A line of men was drawn across country, so as to make a buttress against any advance by the crazy Kaffirs.  Each picket had charge of a stretch of ground, and in the morning soldiers would ride sharply to right and left, covering it.  They could tell, by footmarks on the dewy grass, whether any Kaffirs had been about in the night.  The chief military officer was for falling back upon a less extended position, where he believed he could be more secure.  He sought the Governor’s authority for the step, which fact well indicates the critical nature of the whole situation.  Sir George scribbled an emphatic ‘No,’ and resumed the scanty sleep from which he had been aroused.