The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17

live amongst them. and promptly began
to levy toll on them by stealing their
stock. But they had reckoned without
their hosts, for the Beers met them rifle
In hand, and many a desperate encounter
which has never been heard of by the
outside world took place In these lonely
wilds; but the freebooters had been dis
persed since then, and the few who were
left now left the Trek Beers severely
alone.
=" How long do you stay hereT 1 asked
the old man. He looked round at the
veldt. THE grass is fairly good he said;
I shall stay until the rains come And
then" I asked him. oh, then 1 shall
have to go from place to place every other
day to get the young grass as it springs
up And when you settle down for any
period, do you never build a rough house?'
l asked him. I have never lived in a
house in my life,' he said; I could not
sleep in one. No, we live in the wagon
and then, as the afternoon was closing In,
/ saddled up and went on my way.
81 found my host had been correct In
saying that there were others close by
for an hours ride brought me to the
river, in reality moderate sized stream,
and along this three separate wagons were
outspanned a few hundred yards apart.
One of these families with a single idea
of comfort had erected an old marquee
tent. l went into this. 1t was furnished
with pile of blankets and skins, a table
and couple of stools. The roof was all
In holes, and could see the sky through
some of them; but the old vrouw seemed
uncommonly proud of it, and showed me
where she slept so as to get out of the
way of the rain. The Kaffir girl sleeps
there she said pointing to a spot lust
beneath huge rent, and 1 thought it was
rough on the Kaftir, but 1 did not say So
The old woman was busily occupied in
baking bread in an oven formed by SCOOP
ing out the inside of an ant-hil and max
ing fire in cavity until the inside had
arrived at proper temperature, when the
ashes are swept out, the bread put inside
and the opening covered up with sods of
earth. She bewailed her inability to give
me any bread, as il was not yet baked. but
offered to make me some crackers; this.
however, l would not allow her to do
though she pressed me again and again
The old habits of hospitality, which are
so marked all through the Boer nation.
no matter what their critics NAV saw to
the contrary, sim hold good in these ire
sponsible wanderers. None of these peonle
asked me for news of the outside world
Iher world consisted Of the piece of land
their stock fed on.
81 had in my pocket a photo of n roolor
car which friend had sent me from
home, and I showed it to the old man. He
took It in his hand, looked at il for some
time, and then gave il back with tho
remark that the man who made the pic
lure was clever man, but he was a ''voor-
doomed liar, for cart could net 20 with
out something to pull 1t. I saw railway
once he said, when 1 was trekking down
here, and that had a stencil (eneine) IN
front TO pun IT, But I said, what prlIeI
Inc engine? Oh he said, I never Thought
OF that, but don't believe that picturs
None OF these famile s had any ssttled
nome, and they had come to this oountr,,
because they were not interfered with here
standing rule of the Trek Beers is thar
lhe hrst conner at any suitable place can
IeIuse 10 allow any one else 10 camp with
IN mile of him. The country does not he
long 10 them, but this makes no difference
10 these simple children Of nature This
RUE 10 never enforced unless the first com
or happens 10 be good deal OF a fighter
IN which case the others viii give hin, a
VICE berth. In the present Instance tha
nIst comers we're The mily with the MAJ
quee, Tut the head was an old man ana
thcush he had with him his son. a man IN
~ or So the other uekkors who had ar.
Ilved hhorlly afterwaud were younger men
win several sons. and 10 he could NOT keep
mem OF. The grass here was moi so GOOD
~ any means as Il was where / had pre.