The National tribune., 1899-12-07
THROUGH THE TRANSVAAL.
Experiences of an American Traveller IL
South Africa.

The women of the Trans ~aaI are kissed
oftener and by a greater number of per
sons than any other women on the face
of the globe. Every male visitor to the
Boer home is expected to kiss all the female
side Of the house from the youngest to the
oldest. The man who should neglect
to kiss any of the women because of old
age or lack Of cleanliness would make an
enemy Of the neglected one for life. Ii
often takes a great deal of courage TO kiss
some of the Boer woman as many of them
have features which are so homely that
they would shock the moVem, ms Of a time
piece. This added to their often unclean
faces makes the task of kissing the BOer
woman a heroic act.
When the Beers retire for the night they
only remove their shoes, hats and coats.
Everything else remains on. The stories
| that have been published concerning the
way that the Beers sleep do not really
paint in stern enough colors the condition
| of the BOer farm house. The writer made
| "A Journey from CharlestOWn TO johannes
burg just before the railroad was opened
between Natal, the border, and the latter
place in a mule coach. The driver one
night outspanned about four mil north
| Of Standerton. We were iii the yard OF
large Boer farm. They are all large, for
| that matter, as each Boer has about 5000
acres to his farm. 1t became n question of
getting nights lodging. In response to a
i
could talk little English. In answer
| to request for a bed and supper she gave
a look that was born Of hatred and simply
said "No."
On the way from the house to the barn
the writer met the. old Boer boss. He
said that the only place that he knew of
where person could get nights lodging
was at Standertoh. The writer told him
that it was little wonder that Americans
believed the stories told by Englishmen OF
the unhospitable Beers. AS soon as he
found he was talking TO an American he
urged me to go with him to the house. The
frau met us at the door. With scowl on
her face she asked her husband in the
Boer language why he was bringing an
EngliShman to- the house. When in
formed that it was an American she be-
came as gracious as she had been discour-
tcous "a few moments previous.
BY 8 o'clock adj the family We're in the
house, consisting ofIfather, mother, two
SONS and one dang lpter, the latter being
about Is Years ofnge4iThiS was the usual
bed hour, but on account of the honor con-
ferred on the faMily.lin entertaining an
American visitor the Did Boer did not say
family prayers Untiln10 o'clock.
We all slept inithes ne room; the par
entS in one cornGr; the boys in another
the daughter in another and the writer in
another As soon as prayers had been
said the Boer had one of the sons Law down
an olu anu EeISatti " SlIaW maIreSS 1Or
me III the corner of the room. This with
an equally dirty blanket, such as the
natives use, was, my bed for the night.
The father and boys removed their shoes
and coats. This was their preparations
Tor bed, The mother and daughter simply
removed their shoes.
The writer went them all one better by
simply lying down without even removing
his shoes or coat. The air in that room
during the night was simply terrible. It i
could be cut with knife. But the Beers
made sure before retiring that no air Should
come into the room by closing every window
and door.