The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-30
LIFE AMONG THE BOERS,
A STURDY AND RELIGIOUS RACE
OF FARMERS IN AFRICA.
They are Poor, but Very HospiLabIe
Their Dwellings and Industry
Midday Sleepers.

OF the country are wool growers, and
like the rest of their kind, are the most
hospitable people on the face of the
globe, writes a correspondent of the San
Francisco Chronicle. Although living
in almost abject poverty, they are ever
ready to extend hand of welcome to
every stranger, particularly if he be an
American.
| have now travelled over one thousand
miles by cart in the colony, and it has
always been with the greatest difficulty
that have persuaded the Beers to take
from me the price of the corn the horses
would eat.
For days we rode along without touch
ing at a single village, and when night
came on made for the nearest farm
house. As the fatms are generally on
elevated ground the folks can see tho
cart long way of, and as we pull up in
front of the house The old Boer and his
wife step out to bid us welcome, although
we are perfect strangers, and before we
have done shaking hands the katiir SER
wants are busy outspanning our horses,
while the good wife, or 'frau," as she is
called, hurries away to procure the best
cheer her humble dwelling affords.
The Beers, although so hospitable,
make distinction in their attentions to
Englishmen and Americans, at least all
my friends and have found such to be
the case.
a few weeks ago, as pulled up at
farm house about sundown, weary with
my long days ride and covered with
dust, another cart containing four men
pulled up at the same time. We were
received in the usual manner, and al.
though there was really no accommoda.
tion IN the house for five unexpected
guests, it never entered into the mind OF
our host to hint at such q thing. The
occupants of the other cart were Eng.
lishmen, and my boy, Jan Fatboy, tax,
ing in the situation at glance, and
wishing to procure me the best possible
quarters, told the old man that was an
American. The result was that my newly
made friends occupied two beds, while
l had one all to myself.
No matter how late traveller may pre-.
sent himself, be he Jew or Gentle,
Englishman or American, and ask a
n ght's lodging, the Beers door will
instantly open to him and some one of
the family will cheerGully turn out of his
bed and give it to the stranger and pos.
sibly find another for himself in the hay
loft.
The Boer in the construction of his
dwelling does not aspire to any higher
class of architecture than what
pleased his grandfather and father be.
fore him. 1t consists of four plain walls
of unburned brick. Its floor is the
honest earth with coating of pounded
ant nests mixed with blood and cow
dung. However repulsive this may seem
to your ideas, it has a nice, sweet
wholesome smell, and were it not for the
tleas which infest every Boer's house, l
could find no objection to it, as it has a
very cool effect in the hot, dry weather.
There are generally only three rooms
and kitchen or "combase' in the
house, the front room opening directly
onto the stoop, with two bedrooms on
either side. The furniture is of the
plainest kind, the chief ornament, a;
well as the most useful article, being the
old Dutch clock, which stands ma jesti-
cally in the corner, numbering the days
as well as the seconds of the lives OF
these honest men. Mo expensive oil
paintings adorn the walls, but con.
pu uu
table of ancient date is the family Bible,
on which every Boer prides himself.
failed to find any other kind of literature
with the exception of few school books
and the 90, eady Reckoner," viii h every
Boer in the country possesses.
These people are chiefly the descend
ants of the Protestant refugees driven
into exile by the revocation of the edict
of Nantes. A considerable numtcr of
the Huguenots made their way to the
Cape about that time. They are very
and naturally a peaceful peo.
pie, but when their rights are tampered
with they rise to a man and show that
although they are ignorant farmers they
are skilled in the use of The rife, and
prove it with deadly effect upon their
foes. They are very early risers and go
about their work long before the sun is
up. The men generally pile out of bed
about o'clock in the morning, and the
first man has to make coffee and call the
rest. Such is the unwritten law. They
work in the veldt till noon, when they
have the heartiest meal of the day.
The heat is generally intense at
this hour, and as soon as the meal
is finished the house is closed up to
keep out the flies, aud every man,
and child take themse YES off to |
their beds, where they sleep soundly till |
the heat of the day is over, when they
resume their work till sundown. In the |
evening, after supper, the people sit
round the room barefooted, when a tub |
S passed round and each person bathes |
MS feet in il. At first l used to object |
strongly, but found that the refusal gave /
,iTense. Now, however, take care to |
get nearest the door, where | can have a .
better chance to use the tub first. II is /
IN old custom and one that induces |
leep.
When this foot bathing is finished the
I'D Boer gets down the family Bible and
he prayers for the night are read. They
ing without hymn books, and most
Justify, too, and It is TO be regretted that
hey know 50 few tunes, for the only one
have ever heard is the tune of the one
Iundredth Psalm. They follow the
of the Dutch Refol med Church,
nd every Sunday, no matter what the
weather. is, the horses are spauned into
he cart at an early hour to take them to
hurch, which in some cases is thirty
niles away from their homes.
There is said to be nothing in all
Europe to equal the extent and beauty
t the flower gardens aud fruit orchards
the new Hotel del Monte,