New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-04
THE LAND OF THE BOER.
CHARACTERISTICS AND LIFE OF THE
KAROO FARMER
RANCE AND UNC1EANLINEss-T DESC
LATION OF THE WELD.

RANCE AND UNc1.EANI.INEss- DESC
LATIoN OF THE WELD.
Cape Town correspondence Of The London Mail.
The Great Karoo, the dry. healthy plateau
which Olive Schreiner in moment or happy
inspiration once described as the future sana-
forum of the world, is little world In itseil.
Wedged between the comparative civilization
Of the southern section Of the Western Prov
ince and the latter day GOlconda Of Kimberley.
and bounded on the east by the land peopled by
the descendants Of the English settlers Of $50.
the KarOo has developed characteristics pecul-
iarly its
1t is the breeding ground Of all that is bgoted
in the political system of the country and all
that is retrOgressve in the commercial side or
the South African nature.
Physically the land presents the appearance
of utter desOlation. Nature shows nowhere
sharper contrast than that which presents itself
to the visitor on passing through the Hex River
Railway Pass his journey northward. NO
longer does the eye rest upon smiling valleys or
catch the CLINT Of the trout stocked stream
dancing in the bright sunlight. In place or the
vne-clad slopes, the orange groves, and the
peach orchards he beholds the ved-an expanse
of country bounded only by the horizon, utterly
barren of trees. and clothed only by stunted,
dust-laden bushes resembling gorse The bushes
grow between the stones in tufts like the wool
upon a HOttentOfs Uranium. The scene is one
Of depressing loneliness
region Of emptiness bowling and ircar.
There is not a redeeming feature in the land
scape. To paraphrase South African common
place the birds have song. the flowers are
without smell. the rivers almost wholly de-
void OF water. and alas. the women possess not
beauty
But stay, The weld has one redeeming feat
IRE. 1t is great sheep country. Sixteen
millions Of the ovinc species browse upon its
dwarfcd herbage I}ut nature draws the line az
this number Periodical drOuths and the raw
ages If scab keep down the ovine population, and
thus insure the B,cr a handsome price for his
slaughtered stock
The effect Of environment upon the human
race is strikingly illustrated in Cape Colony.
In the lower reaches Of the Western Province
the wine and brandy farmer presents the APP
pcarance of a prosperous publican eastward
the cattle farmer lakes after the manner ~ his
fat beeves; the dweller In this barren. inhospi-
table Karoo bears the stamp Of a man engaged
in constant struggle against heavy odds
There is little Of the wild Boer about him he is
too near civilization for that. AS rule. the
karoo farmer is a slender. wiry man with
skin resembling crn<led parchment, clad in A
shabby suit a blush coat. corduroy trousers
and a low crowned billy-cOck encirced by
band If the eternal black Grape. He drives
t.oor mules and rides Ia "A springless cart
The cchaa o. bOer (Anglice: sheep farmer. save
the fortunate individual who chances to be in
touch with the railway or with some up-country
VILLAGE lives the life Of "A ha.f bar barian. His
homestead unless he be very wealthy. and mar
ried To q woman who educated in Cape
Town. usually consists Of a low. rambling tene-
rnent OF sun-dricd brick. with mud floor. II
the located in the neighborhOod
- spring. "A few green trees weeping will
lows grace the front exterior. but the planting
Of trees necessitatos some little work, and the