The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-26
BOER FARMS ON THE VELDT
South Africans Lead a Purely
Pastoral Existence.
THRIFT IS MOSTLY LACKING
Opportunities for Profit Seem to Have
Been Saving Meth
DDS Find No Favor in That
PARKWAY Region.

Let me introduce you to a Dutch farm
house in the Transvaal as I saw it one
fine afternoon two or three years since
says writer in the London Graphic
1t was situated some miles from any
town or village; the typical Boer does
not desire near neighbors. The way to
1T lay over the high veldt, along vast
plains, with here and there a range of
hills presenting the appearance of huge
pudding molds turned upside down, only
slightly more rugged of surface. but
scarcely less bare.
Our vehicle was kind of buggy, a
hybrid between a Cape cart and an old
fashioned gig. Winding around the
base of one of the big pudding basins,
we came upon a little valley in which
two or three green trees of the willow
species showed the presence Of water,
and soon afterward arrived at the
house. 1t was a low building of stone
with corrugated iron roof; along the
front ran the stoep, which is a raised
causeway or veranda, built also of
stones laid one upon another and COW
cred with earth beaten down hard. This
is the place wherein a Boer loves to
lounge, smoking his eternal pipe and
the law with regard to Rooineks (Eng-
liShmen) or uitlanders generally. At
the back were two little paddocks in
closed by stone walls loosely put to-
gether, and cattle kraal, also of stone,
but partly matched. Two mules were
standing in the afternoon sun, winking
their long ears in futile attempts to
scare the flies which were exploring
every portion of their lean bodies. A
yoke of oxen browsing at some distance
completed the prominent features of
the landscape, until at the sound of
wheels a couple of dogs of the lurcher
kind appeared and greeted us with furi-
Gus barks. Two black boys, called Sun
day and Shilling, came to take charge
of our horses and conveyance, and we
were ushered in by the back entrance
through the kitchen.
Want of Thrift.
The distinguishing feature of the
apartment, after the general squalor of
the whole, was a stout cord stretched
across one end, with strips Of meat
hanging over and tied to it: this was
the greater part of a sheep, which /
afterward understood was killed the
day before. The practice is 20 cat it
all up, without any apparent regard
to joints, in various shapes and siZ, S
and to hang it in the air or often in
biltong which they use on their jour
neys or in wartime and which is said
to be most nourishing and sustaining
food. We passed on into the inner
room, which was breakfast room, din
ing room and drawing room combined,
it was rather long and narrow, With a
deal table, also narrow, and a few
wooden chairs Against one wall was
wooden box, which, with tvs or
three cushions on it. posed as a couch
A small harnlonium stood at me end
and in two corners were little CUP
boards, or whatnots, draped with cle-
tonne or colored print. The i1or was
composed of a mixture Of clay ar! cow
dung, beaten down hard and firm. I
was informed that this kind of floor
was considered very good for health
I was introduced to my bedroom, lead
ing out of the dining room, and found
it simply, but little more comfnr;a-
bly,, furnished, muslin curtains I'd the
windows, but no blinds! AS seed
on the stoop later there came tt me
a fairy vision of farm houses in dear
old England. with their trim, smooth
lawns. vegetables and flower gardens,
and I thought Oh, for little n lustry
and enterprise in this desert. which
could be made to blossom as 4 rose!
The soil is so fertile that it IS COM
monty said if you throw a plant at the
ground and water 1t it will grow. Here
all around it was little better han a
wilderness: a pool lay at the hottGm
Of the bare patch, which should have
been a garden, and few ducks stood
among the reeds or disported them
selves on the water. No green fields CT
wheat or barley waved in the soft.
sweet air. The Boer does not seem
to believe in cultivation save for a lit
tie ground roughly scratched over for
patches of Indian corn. here called
mealies, of which, when finely ground
and sifted, they make their bread: very
good it is when quite fresh. but after a
day or two it becomes hard and sour.
Many Neglected Opportunities.
Through all the years in which the
Beers have held the Transvaal it seems
never to have occurred to them that.
with some labor and care, they could
have made this country both profitable
and fair to look upon. Water is to be
found generally at a depth of 80 feet;
certainly locusts and drought are for
midable foes, but in Natal, where these
drawbacks are also known, and the
climate much hotter, a good deal OF
land is under cultivation. 1t is not
that the Beers bestoW much time on
mental attainments or the study of
books, on esthetic culture or care nf
personal appearance; his only book,
usually, is the Bible, his letters are
never written, his toilet accessories are
of the most primitive kind and those
not often used. The average Boer does
not undress when he retires to rest,
consequently his whole attire is of the
frowsiest: he is unshorn, unwashed,
unbrushed, his skin, hair and clothing
are all of the same hue, in close Atm
ity with the color of the ground
thence, We may conclude, arises their
favorite appellation, sons of the soil"
AS the sun sank behind the hills and
the short twilight faded into darkness
a dismal sound arose from the afcre-
mentioned pool and its neighborhood-
the loud croaking of many frogs, re-
sembling the distant lowing of cattle.
Supper over I went to bed. Though
wearied with my journey, sleep did not
visit my eyelids; restless feeling
came over me and soon I became aware
that the blanket covering me was ap-
parently the camp of armies of insects
of the sprightly kind, whence they is
sued in battalions and attacked me at
every vulnerable point. Added to this
misery, a heavy thunderstorm, with
rain dashing against my window, came
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