The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-05
The Republic Is One of the Anorla-
lies of Eodafn Civilization.
LIFE THERE IS VERY PRIMITIVE.
The Knfir ~scr,nnts. or .Beya'' Arc
Virtually erfn Fruit Growing ana
AGricuiturc Sot Popular Owing
TO tic Incidence of the Bocrs-
Hatred OF All Foreigners.
Copyright, 1895, by s.. S. McClue, lin
ited.)

L. 1o"Ay PCo. sC.- Is
IIansvaal Republic is one of the anon
alles of civilization. There. In a seclud-
Ell wilderness. the traveller finds q wide
~ scattered community OF farmers and
sheep ranchets. all of direct Dutch de-
: scent, pressis wing all the characteristics
of the crude life of their ancestors Of the
eighteenth century. internFlrrying so
universally as to exclude all the rreshcn-
ing impulses OF Saxon and Celtic blood,
and Tepell!ng all the Influences that
would mold their destiny in the direc-
ton OF social elevation, refined surround
ings and mental culture.
They are to-day the most eStraordj-
nary people OF the Caucasian race. in
tenSely devoted to their Lutheran reli-
gion, to the preservation of their c0un-
try from the influx Of English speaking
agriculturists. and to the retention OF
the Dutch language as tina; of the Eolks-
raau. OF Congress of the Courts. the
schools and the churches. Their rough
dress is also Il close copy Of old Dutch
Fashions, and in only one RESPECT do
they keep pace with modern Woy,ess:
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 prac-
tice. hunting Tor the suppl OF the family
larder with The delicious meat of The
Gland, considered superior To- beer.
ing and other species of deer.
Ht PtlSNddi f'btIS require farms OF
enormous extent to secure sufficient pas
turagc for their tlocks and herds. This
services Of a land surveyor are seldom
needed, the farms being outlined By rid
Ing on horseback say for an hour in
u given direction. the four sides OF n
square thus formed containing about
1000 "norgen.' Many of the farms
are Of vast Dimensions. and the owners
resemble the feudal barons of old, hav-
inE the power Of life and death over
his boys" tiaiir ServantS). who are
really serfs and among whom discip-
line In maintained by means OF the
"shambuk," twI.p of rhinocerus hide.
II hideous stories OF the cruflties in
il!cted by the Beers on the kafilr are
current.
Each farm must have n spring or wa
ter course, known as n "fontcin," and
thus this Is Il favorite terminal fer the
names OF farms. The Eosr nlst buiI1s
a dam to retain water for his sheen ana
cattle during the drv season, and then
erects n cheap l-story pitch roof stone
aooue house, the cnrthcn floor hclnE
Solidly macerated With clay obtained
o neishboring anthins. which there
exist to the height OF eight and ten feet.
and forming Il solid clean surface i'm
perHt0us TO vermin In the wall is sci
Il huge fireplace. while on the bla ken
ed beams overhead are hung fes;oons
OF dried pumpkins. and "helt0ng," the
ihSht VI tat oN. cltIu or SDGinr1glS
dried in the sun i'll strips. This is tho
equivalent of our co.nrd meats Irnr
II sh meat thN Rocr tc~~aTlonallv slauph-
tiers one OF his fat ilRt-iailcd sheer. Tho
mutton being bc!led in Il huge 10. along
with sliced pumpkins and Encr twhca,,
is net u dish lit to Sc; before "A l!nr
On the contrary, l had To be desperately
hungry to make a square meal oil H.
when "t:ekking" through the wilder
ness. Sheep tail fat is used instead or
butter. '
The Beers rule is partriarcb,l NV,
archaic. After hunting all day. he re-
turns hcLne and has family worsh,p.
reading from a great leathey-hacked
Dutch Bible: after y ayers. father, moth
er' sons AID daughters Join the "boys''
outside and coun: the sheen MS thav
are being driven into the krant for .hr
night. a necessary prccaution fc. since
hyc:las, j~Sckals and even lions sill
prcwi over these vast solitary. trecless
ia bile lands.
The Eoer is innatcly lazy: he hates
agriculture and Il field or two of meal
les, irrigated from the "fon,c!n" is about
ali the c!'Np he raises. While The frau"
grows a few potatoes and many n.nr-
ster pumpkins. Fresh fruit is almrs;
unkonwn. Here and there an enter
P!lsin% man may raise a few pome gran
ate and peach trees from The seed or a
grape vine or two. but tho average Boer
scoitS IN" fruit tree. Flowers under
Httiic!al cultivation ] never saw but
ohcc--on the farm OF Il Goer named
i%n;ler. near The Vaai rivs-. In spite OF
Mr. buffers name. | found he couldn't
srsak Il word of English.
Education IS largely OF an elementary
chaiactcr. The three RS" represent
me average curriculum. and al! schools
are t4ught by teachers from Holland.
me Eoer Is Intensely bign.cd, and no
catholic or Hebrew schools are allowed
10 De established. and 1t Is this school
question ;hG: is one OF the causes Of
me serious troubles now existing he
tween Inc Beers and the large English.
SPeak!hs population drawn into the
country by reason of the gold mining
operations. The franchise Is extended
20 foreigners ii they become natuga,
iEeu alter five ycI:e' residence. but
hei'hsr Roman Catholics nor Jews are
allowed to vote. The Nolksraad has
Two chambers. but while the natural
i"ed citizen may be elected Ia tie sec
oha' lis powers are completely fulfilled
IN case Of the t:Ist Chamber vetoins
its acts.
The laws are 50 stringent that p:ac-
ticaily only iiocrs can secure admin
sion 10 the First Chamber and thus the
republl refuses TO what is now the
majority OF the population n Just share
: IN iesisiaiion. The taxes ana import
duties are very heavy. The Boar bare
~ loie:ntes the modern Iioi!andcr 10
: ShSiH2-ot9 of the German and bitterly
dcte&is the f,nsiishman. ana the Amnri-