The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-03-25
Something About the Beers.

Anothony Trollope, in his work on
touth Africa, gives an account OF the
curious customs of courtship prevailing
among the Beers. The young Boer,
ays Mr.. Trollope, who thinks that ne
wants q wife, and has made up his mind
20 look for one, begins by riding round
the country to find the article that will
init him. On this occasion he does not
trouble himself with the hard work OF
sourtship, but merely sees what there Is
within the circle to which he extends MS
inspection. He viii have dressed him.
self with more than ordinary care. so
shat any impression which it may make
may be favorable, and it is probable
that the Young ladies in the district know
Whist he is about. But when he has
made his choice, then he puts on his
very best and cleans his saddle or bor-
COWS a new one, and sticks a 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 Beers ana TO De
purchased at every store, with which to
soften the heart of the mother-and
.eapdie. Everything depends upon the
candle. It should be of wax, or some
wax-like composition; but tallow WI!
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
iorth-and always consumed-leave not
4 shadow of doubt. Then the candle Is
at once offered to the young lady. II
she refuse (which my informant seemed
to think was unusual, then the swain
goes on without demonstrating and OF.
Sers 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, I'M
I'll the flame shall have come down to
the pin. A little salt, I 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, may
probably provide for this when arrang-
ing the distance for the pin. A day or
two afterward the couple are married,
80 that there is nothing of the "non.
sense, and occasional heartbreak OF
long engagements. 1t is thus "freying'
Ia carried on among the Beers OF the
Transvaal.
Marriages are usually early, and are
fruitful in the rule. From ten to twelve
children to a 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 $50. Out of this rapid increase Of
population grew the Orange Free State
and tie Transvaal Republic. Land be-
ing verv dear in the Cape Colony, and
scarcely affording pasturage for thu
cattle there owned, it has become the
custom for the Dutch farmer to senG
one or more of his sons to those region:
where real estate can be bought com
paratively cheap. To purchase land i
!, the great passion of the Boer. Farm
of {; 600 to 5000 acres are the rule. ant
there are some farmers the area of who's
land is equal to that of little Germal
principality. Next to the land the cat
de constitute the chief wealth OF tn
Boers-great, long-horned neat herds
together with merino sheep and Anger
goats. The first business of the farm
er's day is the inspection of tn
sskraale," or corrals, large Enclosures 9
thorn hedges, or, with the wealth
Beers, stone walls, where the cattle ar
kept over night, there being no cattl
sheds in South Africa. The darby VIII
watches cattle through the day is
striking-looking figure, dressed in shee
or goat-skin, and wOrnOut English
French or German military uniform
these uniforms being sent to South A
RIGA by the hundred by old-clothes dea
ers. Owing to the slight rainfall, onl
such farms are fit for agriculture as al
situated near the rivers and convenlel
for irrigation. The farmer Is al
plagued by locust swarms, hail. and ru
ia bis grain. But the productiveness
the country is increasing, and in tt
last fifteen years the exports have nea
Nv tripled in value. The raising
astriches for their feathers has becon
a considerable industry.
The so called " nachtmaals - form
characteristic feature of Boer life. Tl
principal religion is the Dutch r
formed Church. Every three months
special Sunday is set apart for the col
munion of the Lords supper. Fro
GREAT distances the Beers stream in
the .sDorp' or chief place of the !
pion, for the celebration of the festiv
The "cart''-the principal vehicle
the country, sort of box hung betwe
two high wheels-not inglarge enou
for the numerous family, the great
wagon is drawn into requisition, dra,
by a large number of draught anima
the wife and daughters and young
children occupy the interior, while
Hottentot and Kaffir servants sit Ii
aackeys on the back seat. The s. baa
takes his place on the drivers Sc
armed with the mighty whip, with its
or 40 feet length of lash, while
grown-up soas ride along on horseba'
the great team being led by nes
carrying a line. The day is also an
casion for political and social gatheril
and the young men use it as a favora
opportunity to look around among
danrhtorS If the land for suitable