The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-02
Something About the Beers.


among the Beers. The young Boer'
says Mr.. Trollope, who thinks that he
wants wife. and has made up his mind
to look for one, begins by riding round
the country to find the article that will
suit him. On this occasion he does moi
trouble himself with the hard work OF
courtship, but merely sees what there is
within the circle to which he extends hi;
inspection. He will have dressed him.
self with more, than ordinary care, SC
that any impression which it may make
may be favorable, and it is probable
that the young ladiesin the district know
what he is about. But when he has
made his choice, then he puts on hi:
very best and cleans his saddle or Dor.
rows new one, and sticks feather in
his cap, and goes forth determined to
carry his purpose. He takes with him
q bottle of sugar-plums-an article in
great favor among the Doors and to be
purchased at every store, with which to
soften the heart Of the mother-and a
candle. Everything depends upon the
candle. 1t should be of wax, or some
wax-like composition; but tallow will
suffice if the proposed bride be not OF
very high standing. Arrived at the
door, he enters, and his purpose is
known at once. The clean trousers and
the feather declare it; and the sugar
plums which are Immediately brought
forth-and always oonsumed-leave not
shadow of doubt. Then the candle is
at once offered to the young lady. II
she refuse it,whioh my informant seemed
to think was unusual, then the swain
goes on without demonstrating and Of
fers it to the next lady upon his list. II
she take it, then the candle is lighted,
aud the mother retires. sticking pin
into the candle as an intimation that the
young couple may rem lin together, ex-
planning their feelings to each other, un.
til the flame shall have come down to
the pin. A little salt, i was assured, is
often employed to make the flame weak,
and 50 prolopg the happy hour. But
the mother, who has, perhaps, had oc-
casion to use salt in her own time, may
probably provide for this when arrang-
ing the distance for the pin. A day or
two afterward the couple are married,
so that there is nothing of the "non.
sense" and occasional heartbreak oil
long engagements 1t is thus 'sfreying''
Is carried on among the Beers OF the
Transvaal.
Marriages are usually early, and are
fruitful in the rule. From ten to twelve
children to mother is the average, and
fifteen or eighteen are not at all rare.
The case of one venerable Boer Is men,
toned whose descendants, including
sons and daughters-in law, grandchii-
dren and great-grandchildren, amount
to $50. Out of this rapid increase OF
population grew the Orange Free State
and the Transvaal Republic. Land be.
ing very dear in the Cape Colony, and
scarcely affording pasturage for the
cattle there owned, it has become the
custom for the Dutch farmer to send
one or more of his sons to those regions
where real estate can be bought COM
paratively cheap. To purchase land is
the great passion of the Boer. Farms
of 5000 to 5000 acres are the rule. and
there are some farmersthe area OF whose
land is equal To that OF a little German
prinoipality. Next to the land the cat
tie constitute the chief wealth of the
Boers-great. long-horned neat herds,
together with merino sheep and Angora
goats. The first business of the farm
er's day is the inspec ion of the
"kraale," or corrals, large enclosures Of
thorn hedges, OF, with the wealthy
Beers, stone walls, where the cattle are
kept over night, there being no cattle
1Lnla -, SA,,tk A frinn Frka al rhc
watches cattle through the day is a
striking-looking figure, dressed in sheep
or goat-skin, and a wornout English,
French or German military uniform,
these uniforms being sent to South At
RIGA by the hundred by old-clothes deal
ers. Owing to the slight rainfall, only
such farms are fit for agriculture as are
situated near the rivers and convenient
for irrigation. The farmer is ais
plagued by locust swarms, hail. and rust
in his grain. But the productiveness Of
the country is increasing, and in the
last fifteen years the exports have near
ly tripled in value. The raising o.
ostriches for their feathers has become
a considerable industry.
. The SO called nachtmaals =" form 6
characteristic feature of Boer life Tit
principal religion is the Dutch Re
formed Church. Every three months /,
special Sunday is set apart for. the com
munion of the Lords supper. From
great distances the Beers stream int
the "Dorp " or chief place of the re
-gion, for the celebration of the festival
The 'cart"-the principal vehicle o
the country, a sort of box hung between
two high wheel9-not being large enough
for the numerous family, the great OK
wagon is drawn into requisition, draw
by large number Of draught animals
the wife and daughters and younge
children occupy the interior, while tn
Eottentot and Kaffir servants sit Xix,
lackeys on the back seat. The baas
takes his place on the drivers sea,
armed with The mighty whip, with its 3
or 40 feet length of lash, while III
grown-up sons ride along on horseback
the great team being led by negr
carrying line. The day is also an OF
casion for political and social gathe ino
and the young men use it us fav0rabl
opportunity to look around among tb
daughters of the land for suitable be
ter halves. The farmer generally cor
trives to reach the place on the Sunda
before; when he visits the shops an
makes his purchases for the next thre
months, also securing q market for h
own products, The church being usua
ly too small to Accommodate the gre,