The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-21
SPECIMENS

tily welcome him back at any time.
SPECIMENS FROM FOREIGN
LANDS.
Salem Female Academy Receives Addi-
lions to It's Growing and Valuable
Museum.
Winston. N. c., March 20.-(SpeciaD-
The museum department OF Salem Fie-
male Academy and college has been gath
ering, for some years past, interesting
specimens from foreign lands bearing up
ON the life and habits of the people, or
showing natural objects Of interest.
few days since a box was received from
distant South Africa, containing an artl-
Gle Of natural interest. 1t is an exact
miniature reproduction of the large wag-
ons used by the Beers or Farmers as
they moved northward from Cape Colony
to Orange Free State and later still far
Their north to the Transvaal.
The Beers are sturdy, well-to-do stock.
of Dutch or Of German extraction, and
they resented the somewhat overwhelm-
ing methods of government on the part of
the English Hence when Cape Colony
the extreme South end of Africa, be-
came too unpleasant for them they trav-
elled or ''troked" northward an great
wagons, each wagon drawn by sixteen
oxen 1t was rough journey over the
unbroken wilds, much like crossing the
plains in the earlier days of the United
States But the hand of England fol-
lowed them even here into the Orange
Free State. So the patient Beers or
Farmers took up the line of march and
went onward into the interior of the
country, again using the famous great
wagons with their sixteen oxen each.
Finally the Transvaal was reached and
here they took their stand, and as is well
known, defied English power to further
annoy them, and old President Kruger
whipped the English force at johann
nesburg last year.
The miniature wagon referred to is an
exact representation of the great vehicles
used during the past generation or two
for the long and rough journeys. 1t rs
about foot high and foot and one
half long With the yokes for the oxen
the length is about four feet. The shape
is not the same as our ordinary covered
wagons, for while the wagon sheet ex-
tends slightly beyond the rear Of the
wagon bed, the front of the wagon is
exposed. The y0kes, too, are quite unlike
our yokes used ON the necks Of oxen.
The wagon bed has chest in front and
one in the rear and between these are
benches on which the passengers are
seated. The comparative length of the
tongue is very great. The wheels are
very much like those used in this coun
try.
The interesting part of this model wag
ON is that it was made by a native of
South Africa with his pocket knife only.
The. Rev. Mr.. Poyet, Moravian mis-
sionary (who resided in Salem several
years ago for his health) now in South
Africa, purchased it and sent it to Cape
Colony. Later he found that no steamers
sailed directly to our country, so the box
had to be sent first to Europe, then to
New York, and finally expressed to North
Carolina. 1t was a long journey and
although the box left South Africa last
fall, it arrived here only a few days ago.
1t is the intention to send to Silesla,
Germany, and have sixteen oxen carved
from wood and thus make the wagon
more realistic.
In the Academy Museum is to be found
the following additional specimens from
foreign lands: A Kayak or Skin Boat u.s.
ed by the natives of Alaska for fish,
ing or travel, a pair Of Snow Shoes, used
by the Eskinos in travelling over snow
fields, q tooth of mammouth (Elephas-
Meridionalis.) These teeth are often found
weighing twelve pounds and more in
Alaska. A deer tooth belt, from Alaska,
made of the teeth of several score OF
deer. Sword-fsh, is often twelve or IF
teen feet long, and with this sword,
which is prolongation OF the nose, can
kill a whale or pierce a hole through the
bottom of a boat. The large bomb-shells
fired at Fort Fisher, n. c., by Union war
vessels. Two large specimens OF Fan
Sea weed.
It appears to be quite certain that the
Southern will extend the North Carolina
Midland Railroad from Mocksville to
Statesville during the next two years.
Rev. David Sampson, OF East Bend, a
Quaker divine, went over TO Lexington
last might to conduct a revival meeting,
beginning tomorrow. At the close Of the
meeting there he will begin one in Win
ston. ~ 1855 Bah
In the western part of the county, a few
nights ago, lightning struck a log house
occupied by two aged maids. Strange
to say, the women knew nothing of the
storm until they awoke next morning.
The house was badly damaged.
Fayetteville Observer: Devoted friends
of the late much revered DIR. Huske a.
rnong the ladies of this place are about
to undertake the publication of a me-
mortal volume of him, which will be ap-
propriately edited, bound, etc. Not only
in this community, but in other communi-
ties, far and near. will this volume be
highly treasured by levin. sdnirers.