Office of the Chief Magistrate East Griqualand
10th December 1883

Sir,

In reply to your letter of the 20th October 1883, upon various subjects between yourself and the Colonial Government, I have the honour to inform you that a copy of the above mentioned letter was forwarded to the Government, and in reply thereto I received the following. That neither that

‘territory at present occupied by the Xesibis nor the St Johns River Mouth will be given up, and that the government sincerely trusts that the Pondos will not by their actions compel government to abandon their desire to be on friendly terms with them, Umqikela may further be informed that there is no wish on the part of the government to maintain unnecessarily any correspondence with him.’

I have the honour to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
C Brownlee
Chief Magistrate

Certified correct copy
… Hamilton McNicholas
Great Place
Pondoland
8/2/84