Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-29
The DUTCH IN AFRICA.
Some of the Queer Customs of the Beers b
the Orange Free State.

THE DUTCH IN AFRICA.
Some of the Queer Customs of the Beers b
the Orange Free State.
The Dutch are accomplished herbal
lists, doubtless obtaining the knowledge
of the Hottentots and Bushmen; they
have herb brandies for COLES and
plants for sores. They are often the
prey of quack doctors; the more as
genuine practitioners, who have to go
long distances, charge heavily. A
Dutchman is satisfied with the treat
ment so long as his medical adviser
brings to the house quart bottle of
physic; if he presents him with
small vial he doubts his skill and sends
for another man. The dead are buried
on the farms, and over them travelling
masons erect mausoleums of brick
Dutch women are enormous in size,
good cooks in their style. gobble
sweets and cakes all day. and take
little exercise. But now and then a
Dutch wife and her daughters may be
seen kraaling the sheep at evening. A
Boer likes his wife's company, and
will leave passengers by his wagon
stuck in the mud and half-starved
while he tracks off fifty miles with an
other vehicle to pay a visit to his
vrauw. Feather beds are greatly
priced by this people; they generally
carry their beds with them on jour-
news.
The trekkings of the Beers are re-
markab!e. Annually the farmhouse
on the slow veld'' is shut up and the
sheep and cattle are taken scores of
miles up to the thigh veld'' for
mountain pasture. Beside some rush
ing stream the wagons are camped,
perhaps tents are pitched, and domes-
among the wild grasses and the COWS
are MIXED beneath the shadows of
mighty mountains. The general be-
lief in the excellence of Boer shooting
is no delusion.
The people are excessively fond of
music and dancing; concertina, har-
monium and fiddle are their delight.
A withered Hottentot dwarf will draw
a strain from the sole of an old shoe
strung with sinew, and men and maid
ems will vigorously dance to it for
hours. For dancing there is no touch
ing the English Afrikander, and his
measures seem quite original. The
Beers have bad character for pilfer-
ing. When the men and the women
enter an up-country store they are
allowed to carry off small goods like
sweets or ribbons, which they uncon-
sciously pay for in the bill. The
farmers are not often rich in money.
their wool crops being mortgaged
sometimes to the stores for two sea-
sons ahead. Young bloods' are indie
pendent and wild. A smart curveting
horse and hat with white ostrich
plume usually denote this species.
When Boer drinks he is an entire
fool. In order to keep a firm hand
| over the young men riding transport.
the elders of the Free State recently
passed bill prohibiting the sale of
liquor at wayside canteeus, and there
by lost a large revenue. However,
there are smugglers.
The Beers are great religious for
malists, and at certain times they and
their families ride into the villages
from great distances to celebrate the
Nachtmaal (night meal or commun-
ion). their wagons loaded with prod
uce-presents for the parsons. At
this time business is brisk and the
streets are like fair. Yet, where ma
tives and land are concerned, the
Beers constant violation of the COM
mandments does not need pointing
out. The Beers are by no means
modest, and their family CONVERSE
tions are at times boisterously indie
cent Household arrangements, save
on rich farms, are necessarily meager,
and the traveller must be prepared to
sleep on the floor in the midst of four
or five sisters and their three or four
brothers. all grown up, while the head
couple snore on an elevated and pom
derous feather bed in curtained cor
ner of the room. When sleeping at a
superior Transvaal farmhouse it is
we'll to examine the mattress; if it
rests on sheepskins throw the skins
out.-St. James Gazette.