The territory came under British rule in the 19th century.
However, there was great disagreement on how it should be governed, with the Cape Colony being reluctant to take responsibility for its administration.
Its status therefore changed several times before it finally became part of the Cape Colony.

The territory’s administration was handled by a British military officer who was appointed as the chief commissioner.
Each administrative chief was assisted by assistant commissioners who acted as magistrates, advisors and arbitrators among the several Xhosa tribes.
The authority of the Xhosa chiefs was recognised to a limited degree since their decisions were subject to review by the colonial administration.
Any decisions made by the Xhosa chiefs could also be reversed if they were contrary to the British colonisers’ agenda.
The Xhosa Chiefs had to acknowledge the Queen of England and recognise their own subordination to the appointed British military commander.

British commander Harry Smith initially arrived in the Cape Of Good Hope in 1828 to lead the British army.
He led a British force in the Sixth Xhosa War of 1834-36.
He returned from India in 1847 to become the governor of the Cape Colony.
He attempted to unseat Chief Sandile of the Ngqika people (he was also the paramount chief of all Rharhabe tribes) in British Kaffraria when the Mlanjeni War (also known as the 8th Xhosa War) erupted in 1850.
The war lasted until 1853 even after Smith was recalled.
The territory came under British rule in the 19th century. However, there was great disagreement on how it should be governed, with the Cape Colony being reluctant to take responsibility for its administration. Its status therefore changed several times before it finally became part of the Cape Colony.
The territory’s administration was handled by a British military officer who was appointed as the chief commissioner. Each administrative chief was assisted by assistant commissioners who acted as magistrates, advisors and arbitrators among the several Xhosa tribes. The authority of the Xhosa chiefs was recognised to a limited degree since their decisions were subject to review by the colonial administration. Any decisions made by the Xhosa chiefs could also be reversed if they were contrary to the British colonisers’ agenda. The Xhosa Chiefs had to acknowledge the Queen of England and recognise their own subordination to the appointed British military commander.
British commander Harry Smith initially arrived in the Cape Of Good Hope in 1828 to lead the British army. He led a British force in the Sixth Xhosa War of 1834-36. He returned from India in 1847 to become the governor of the Cape Colony. He attempted to unseat Chief Sandile of the Ngqika people (he was also the paramount chief of all Rharhabe tribes) in British Kaffraria when the Mlanjeni War (also known as the 8th Xhosa War) erupted in 1850. The war lasted until 1853 even after Smith was recalled.
British Kaffraria