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Auction: 20040 - Stamps and Covers of Southern Africa
Lot: 12

Basutoland
Covers and Cancellations
The Basutoland Rebellion, Gun War, 1880-81
1880 (Aug.-Sept.) group of three autograph letters from W.H. Surmon at Mohale's Hoek to Col. Griffiths awaiting the attack at the end of September "....The delay in sending us assitance is causing much dissatisfaction amoungst both the Europeans and Natives, who are losing confidence in us... Every day now adds to the strength of the rebels... it is no good sending a few hundred men now, we want thousands the crush the rebellion at the start"; the second letter begins "My post rider has just returned and reports that he was turned back about three miles this side of Mafeteng... I now send the post through Gurney's Drift to go via Wepener..." and finally on the 19 September "... It is getting very warm here and I fully expect that we will be hard at it fighting away in a day or two. Tomorrow is said by many to be the day we are attacked by every available man in the district... We are hard at work today strengthening our position and mean to save ourselves and our cattle if we can, but we are so weak that you must not be surprised if we lose at least the latter...". A fine account of the feelings a few days before the attack

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Estimate
£180 to £220

Starting price
£140