In 1846 a Xhosa man named Tsili stole an axe from a shop in Fort Beaufort. In a masterly display of overreaction, a British force invaded the Xhosa province of Queen Adelaide, beginning the Seventh Frontier War, known as the War of the Axe (1846–47). Today, Fort Beaufort has left such drama long behind and is a quiet, attractive and unassuming little town, but you can still learn about its past (and about its current attractions) at the Historical Museum in the old officers’ mess. It’s bursting with memorabilia from firearms to fossils, and offers tourist advice.
