The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-05
The Republic Is One Of the knOma-
lies Of Modern Civilization.
LIFE THERE IS VERY PRIMITIVE.
The KaHir Servnmta, or ''Boys'' Are
Virtually Scrrs-Frnit Growing ana
Agriculture Not Popular Owing
to tho Incidence Of The Beers
Hatred OF All Foreigners.
copyright. 1896, by S. S. McClue, lin
fled


Cape Town, Africa. Feb. 29.-,The
'Fransvaal Republic is one of the anon
allies of civilization There. in q seclud-
3 ed wilderness, the traveller finds wide
~ scattered community of farmers and
+ sheep Tanchc!s, all of direct Dutch de-
scent, preserving all the characters, les
OF the crude life of their ancestors Of the
Il eighteenth century. internnrrying so
z universally asto exclude all the freshcn-
( ing impulses OF Saxon and Celtic blood.
y and cepelling all the Influences that
4 would mold their destiny in the direc-
z ton of social elevation, refined surround
1ngs and mental culture.
They arc to-day the most extraordi-
nary people of the Caucasian race. IN
4 lensely devoted 10 their Lutheran rolf
4 gion. to the preservation OF their caun-
Try from the influx OF English speaking
Il saSrlcu!tuiSts, and to the retention OF
u the Dutch language as that OF The Volks-
Y raad, OF Congress Of the Courts The
+ schools and the churches. Their rough
3 GresS is also a close copy of old Dutch
: Fashions. and In only one respect do
they keep pace with modern progress
3 this Is In the purchase of the --latest tyn,s
OF improved firearms. They are al
trained marksnen, and their sons from
the age OF 10 are kept In constant pr-ac-
aice. hunting for the supply of the family
larder with the delicious meat of the
edand, considered superior 10 beef
sprlnsbok and other species Of dee.
n Inc iIansNaai Beers require farms al
KS enormous extent To secure sufficient pas
X turaGe for their nocks and herds. Til,
II services of land surveyor are seldom
4a needed. the farms being outlined by rid
II 1nS on horseback say for an hour fl
- any given direction. the four sides of ;
iSsquare thus formed containing ahou
RAJ 4 900 "moTgen." Many OF the firm
: are of dit,1apStons ,,,,l
g resemble the feudal barons of old. hay
z Ing the power of life and death ove
AGhis boys" Ciafiir servants. who mr.
IS really serfs and among whom disciu
line in maintained by means of TN
shambuk," (whip of rhinoceros hide
III and hideous stories OF the cruclties in
IS Hicted by the Beers on the Kanir a!
4 current
Each farm must have a spring or WA
\ ter course, known as n ''fontcin.'' an
4 thus this Is a favorite terminal for u,
names of farms. The Boer f:s; build
B 4 dam to retain water for his sheep al,
cattle during the dry season, and the
e1ects a cheap l-story pitch roof s,on
+ abode house. the ear;hcn floor bein
solidly macerated with clay ob,aino
from ne:ghboring anthils which thel
( exist to the height OF eight and ten fee
s. and forming a solid clean surface in
z Dervious to vermin In the wall is s,
q huge fireplace, while on the backcr
( cd beams overhead are hung festoon
3 OF dried pumpkins, and "beltong," tn
q meat Of the OK, Gland or spr!nebol
dried in the sun in strips. This is tn
& equivalent of our ccrned meats Fc
/ ~ esh meat tn. Bocr OCCASIONALLY slauef
tiers one of his rat flat-tailed sheep, tn
mutton being boiled in a huge pot alon
with sliced pumpkins and Boer twhcat
4 meal. or "mealie' (ccrn) meal Thi
is not a dish fit to set before a kin.
On the contrary. had to be despcIa tel
Z hungry to make a square meal off Il
y when "trekkinE" through the wilder
ness. Sheep tail fat is used instead @
y butter
th The. Beers rule is partriarchal an
i archaic. After hunting all day. he re
turns home and has family WORSHIP
reading from a great leather-ba cke
Dutch Bible; after prayers. father. moth
& sr, sons and dau 9hters join the boys
ss i5spntside and, count the sheep as the,
sare.s being driven into the krant for III
SgJli ghtj a necessary precaution for sine
4 i, yeu1as, 1ackals and even lions still
Gprawl over these vast solitary, treeles
stable lands.
The Boer Is inratcly lazy; he hate,
and a field or two of meal
les, irrigated from the "fontein" Is abou
asAll the crop he raises, while the frau
sRFowS fow potatoes and many mon
sster pumpkins. Fresh fruit is almos
ssnnkonwn. Here and there an enter
g;prtsiflg man may raise a few pome gran
Sase ana Eench trees from the seed or G