The Eastern Cape has a rich history as it was here that black Africa in the form of the Xhosas, met with Afrikaners & English colonists met for the first time. From the late 1700s the Xhosa and the eastward moving Afrikaner Trek Boers clashed over cattle and land. This volatile situation was made worse by the arrival of the British 1820 Settlers the end result being 9 Frontier Wars. A portend of things to come as the colonists moved further north.