The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-24
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Experiences Of an Indiana Girl IN Teaching
School in the TransVaal.


From letter from Kate Watt, of Hoscuisko county,
Pretoria, Trausyaal.
Our house is one of the warinest that can be
imagined Although it is brick it is
not built for this climate. We have lately had
a veranda put up, rather the society and
school, as it belongs to the mission. mar
ried clergyman will probably want the house to
live in now, and we will have to 20 elsewhere.
| went to picnic with a family on New Years;
we were gone four days and of course went in
the South African Putnam bullock wagon.
We had a cart and three horses with the expe-
dltlon; our camping place was near
large river. The company consisted of five
ladies, four gentlemen, four children and five
Kafirs. Two of the latter attended the oxen, of
which there were twelve. So many parts of
South Africa are destitute of trees, but fortu-
nately there were plenty where halted.
New Years was one of the hottest days we have
had This has been a long and tedious summer:
the former part was so very dry AMI the heat
has been intense. The latter part has
been blessed with showers, so now in
Autumn, the hills and valleys are
green and beautiful. One family with
whom spent week at Christmas has gone to
England on visit and when they return to
Africa will live in Natal. a young lady of an
other family with whom ! spent Il week, intends
visiting America in company with her uncle,
who formerly lived there many years The
people are constantly on the move to some
place; one family that went to Switzerland soon
after | came to Pretoria. are now about to re-
turn and take up their abode here again. Lawn
tennis and croquet parties are all the rage just
now. The British president offered El0 and
f5 to the two best tennis players
very good prizes, being nearly $50 and
$25. A single lady was the recipient Of the first
prize, and married lady the second. 1t was
given in good iewelry. There is croquet tour
nament being held now, the admittauce which
is about five shillings. and with the money prizes
will be bought This is a gay place, and little
else is thought of but how to pass the time away
in the most pleasing manner. Not all are so in
clined, but by far the greater number are appar
emily living for time only. We have found kind
friends in our small circle, and, when was ILL., re
ceived many tokens of their good-wi to me. Our
school numbers about seventy at present.
1t will be six years next September since / left
New York l am far up the country" nearly
one thousand miles from Cape Town, near
where the first part of my time was spent after
coming to Africa. 1 am 400 miles fromthe Indian
Ocean, Port Natal. There is no other American
teacher up the country save myself there was
one at a village southeast of here, but the war
caused her to leave and return to native landi
My plans were also changed by the same war
and for time another teacher and myself took
refuge in the Orange Free State, with the Dutch
minister's family, at Bethlehem, by the river
Jordan. For two years have been teaching for
the Wesleyans in Pretoria, the capital of this
State a young lady, an Africander English, is
with me; We keep house, assisted by two Dutch
ladies' all Africanders.