The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-04-07
Something About the Beers.

Something About the Beers.
Anothony Trollope, in his work or
South Africa, gives an account of thu
curious customs of courtship prevailing
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 o.
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 ladies in the district know
what he is about. But when he has
made his choice, then he puts on his
very best and cleans his saddle or bor-
rows new one, and sticks feather in
his cap, and goes forth determined to
carry his purpose. He takes with him
bottle of sugar-plums-an article in
great favor among the Beers 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 consumed-leave not
a shadow of doubt. Then the candle is
at once offered to the young lady, If
she refuse it,which 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,
and the mother retires. sticking pin
into the candle as an intimation that the
young couple may remain together, ex-
planning their feelings to each other, un-
til the fame shall have come down to
the pin. A little salt, was assured, is
often employed to make the flame weak,
and SO prolong the happy hour. But
the mother, who has, perhaps, had oc-
casion to use salt in her own time, NAV
probably provide for this when arrane-
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 of
long engagements. 1t is thus ssfreyine''
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, grandchil-
dren and great grandchildren, amount
to- ESQ. Out of this rapid increase of
population grew the Orange Free State
andstte 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 farmers the area of whose
land is equal to that of little German |
principality. Next to the land the cat
tie constitute the chief wealth of. the
Boers-great, long-horned neat herds, /
together with merino sheep and Anpora
goats. The first business of the farm.
er's day is the inspec ion of the
''kraale,'' or corrals, large Enclosures of
thorn hedges, or, with the wealthy
Beers, stone walls, where the cattle are
kept over night, there being no cattle
sheds in South Africa. The Garky who
watches cattle through the day is
striking looking figure, dressed in sheep
or goat-skin, and WORKOUT 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, eonly
such farms are fit for agriculture as are
situated near the rivers and convenient
for irrigation. The farmer is also
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 of
ostriches for their feathers has become
a considerable industry.
The so called nachtmaals - form q
feature of Boer life. The {
principal religion is the Dutch Re- (
formed Church. Every three months a {
special Sunday is set apart for the COM ,
munion of the Lords supper. From
great distances the Beers stream into /
the Dorp" or chief place of the re- i
glon, for the celebration of the festival.
The Scart"-the principal vehicle of |
ihe country, sort of box hung between +
,wo high wheels-not being large enough i
or the numerous family, the grea. OK {
wagon is drawn into requisition, drawn '
y large number of draught animals; '
,S,. wlie and daughters and younger q
aottentot and Kaffir servants sit like
ackeys on the back seat. The "baas y
axes his place on the drivers seat.
Irmed with the mighty whip, with its 80 j.
n 40 feet length of lash, while the I
:rown-up sons ride along on horseback. 7