The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-18
The real african BOER
His Republic Ono Of the Anomalies
Of the Day.
LIFE THERE IS VERY PRIMITIVE
The Kaffir Servants, or "Doys." Are Vir-
r. tuaiiy Scrfs-Fruit Growing aud Agri-
culture Not Popular Owing to the
Irrepresslblo Incidence Of Doers.

Cape Town, Africa, Feb. 25.-The
Transvaal Republic Is one of the anom-
allies Of civilization. There, In a Sc
cluded wilderness. the traveller finds
a widely scattered community of farm
ers and sheep ranchers, all of direct
Dutch descent. preserving all the char
acteristics of the crude life Of their an
cestOrs Of the eighteenth century, in
termarrying so universally as to ex-
clude all the freshening impulses of
Saxon and Celtic blood. and repelling
all the Influences that would mold their
destiny In the direction of social eleva-
tion, refined surroundings and mental
culture.
They are today the most extraordi-
nary people Of the Caucasian race. in
tensely devoted to their Lutheran re-
ligion, to the preservation of their
country from the influx Of English
speaking agriculturists, and to the re-
tention of the Dutch language as that
of the VOlksraad, or Congress. of the
courts the schools and the churches.
Their rough dress is a close copy of
old Dutch fashions, and In only one re-
spect do they keen pace with modern
progress: this Is in the purchase Of the
latest types of improved firearms.
They are all trained marksmen, and
their sons from the age of 10 are kept
In constant practice, hunting for the
supply Of the family larder with the
delicious meat of the eland. considered
superior to beef, springbok and other
species Of deer The Transvaal Beers
require farms Of enormous extent to
secure sufficient pasturage for their
flocks and heards. The services of a
land surveyor are seldom needed. the
farms being outlined by riding on
horseback say for an hour in any CIV
EN- direction. the four sides Of a square
thus formed containing about 1000
"morgen." Many Of the farms are of
vast dimensions, and the owners re-
semble the feudal barons of old, having
the power OF life and death over his
boys" (Kaffir servants), who are real
ly serfs, among whom discipline Is
maintained by means Of the "sham-
buk" (whiD of rhinoceros hide), and
hideous stories Of cruelty inflicted by
the Beers on the Kaffirs are current.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Each farm must have a spring of
water course. known as "fontein,"
and thus this is favorlte terminal
first builds dam to retain water for
his sheep and cattle during the dry
SedSOH, anu lHtH cTeCtS cheap oIle-
story pitch roof stone abode house, the
earthen floor being solidly macerated
with clay obtained from neighboring
for the names of farms. The BOer
anthills. which there exist to the height
Of eight and ten feet, and forming q
solid clean surface impervious to ver-
min. In the wall Is set huge fire.
place. while on the blackened beams
overhead are hung festoons of dried
pumpkins. and "beltong." the meat of
the OK. eland or springbok. dried in
he sun in strips. This is the equiva-
lent Of our corned meats. For fresh
one Of his fat fiat-tailed sheep, the
mutton being boiled In huge pot along
with sliced pumpkins and Boer (wheat
neal, or ''mealie" (corn) meal. This Is
not q dish fit to set before king On
the contrary. I had to be desperately
hungry to make square meal Of 1t.
when "trekking" through the wilder
less. Sheep tail fat Is used instead of
1utter
The Beers rule is patriarchal and
archaic. After hunting all day, he re-
turns home and has family worship.
reading from q great leather-backed
Dutch Bible; after prayers. father
mother, sons and daughters Join the
boys" outside and count the sheep as
hey are being driven into the kraal
or the night, q necessary precaution,
ince hyenas, jackals and even lions
till prowl over these vast solitary,
treeless table lands.
HABITUALLY LAZY.
The Beers Is innately lazy: he hates
,griculture and q field or two of meal
ns. irrigated from the ''fontein," Is
bout all the crop he raises, while the
frau" grows few potatoes and many
monster pumpkins. Fresh fruit is
lmost unknown. Here and there an
nterprising man may raise few
pomegranate and peach trees from the
Iced, or a grape vine or two. but the
verage Boer scorns the fruit tree.
flowers under artificial cultivation I
iever saw but once-on the farm of a
3oer named Butler. near the Vaal
iver. In spite of MIR. Buffers name
found he couldn't speak word Of
English.
Education Is largely of an element
,ry character The three RS" repre-
,ent the average curriculum, and all
chools are taught by teachers from
holland. The Boer Is intensely big
ted. and no Catholic or Hebrew
chools are allowed to be established.
nd II Is this school question that Is
ne Of the causes Of the serious trou-
les now existing between the Beers
nd the large English-speaking popu-
alton drawn into the country by rea-
on Of the gold mining operations. The
ranchise Is extended to foreigners II
hey become naturallzed after five
ears residence, but neither Roman
sathOltC0 nor J0Wn are ALLOWED TO vote