The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-03

The Transvaal republic has no regu-
lar standing army, nor has it any en-
forced system of military training, but
the burghers are liable to be called
upon for active service in the field at
very short notice. The country is di-
vided into districts, over each of which
a field cornet presdes, his official func-
tions being somewhat similar to those
of our justices of the peace. His judi
cial capacity is not severely taxed,
though, as it is seldom brought into
requisition except in trivial cases, such
as INSTRUMENTATION of native servants
and impounding of cattle. and as these
cases are comparatively rare his posi-
ton is somewhat of a sinecure, unless
the Transvaal government is making
war on some of the neighboring Kaffir
tribes. Then the field cornet becomes
particularly busy man. His duty I'M
der those circumstances is to ride from
farm to farm within his jurisdiction and
notify the head of the house TO meet
his fellow burghers at some given point.
Should the Boer, apprised in this man
ner have a valid excuse for not ac-
cepting service at that time. the field
cornet may commander his horse,
rifle or ammunition. If the farmer
happen to be a rich man ne may be re-
Quired to give several horses to the
common cause, in addition to his own
services.
Boer Loves a Horse.
On one occasion L was making a short
stay at a Transvaal Beers house while
convalescing from an attack of malar-
ial fever and happened to possess an
English horse. whose splendid proper
lions made him conspicuous among the
smaller animals raised by the Dutch
men. The Beers were preparing 10
suppress a native insurrection on the
Transvaal border and the field cornet
i'll going his rounds noticed my horse
standir in the stable of the Boer whose
hospitality | was then enjoying. No
man in the world has a keener eye for
a good horse or OK than-a Boer; ii is
one of the very few things he knows
perfectly well, and he prides himself
on it. My horse, 1 repeat, attracting
the attention of the field cornet, that
official instantly Communicated me for
active service. | explained to the gen.
tleman that l was, in the first place.
an invalid and unfit for the field, and
that secondly and principally, L was
not a Transvaal burgher and therefore
exempt. He, of course, knew this, but
was determined to have my steed with
or without its owner. He argued that
the head of a house. in which another
man was living. became responsible for
that mans actions; that he took the
place of his father; that, to all intents
and purposes. he was his father for the
time being, and therefore the visitor
should be considered as a son; this
axiom being established, il followed
that l would have to let my horse go.
for my worthy host would expect his
real son to do the same. This little
piece of Beer sophistry didn't work,
L.
to part with him on any such terms,
and threatened to take the matter into
the courts if the field cornet insisted on
communicating the animal. After vast
ing a good deal of valuable eloquence
my friend eventually receded from his
original position, and then endeavored
to swap horses with me. In this he
was thoroughly at home. and stuck to
me like a leech-a horse leech. He dis
covered more ills in my unfortunate
steed than l ever dreamt that mortal
horsef1esh was heir 10, willie h:A--iwn
animal. which he desired to exchange
rose momentarily in value. My horse
was, according to his deliberate opin-
ion. becoming wall-eyed, was on the
high road to blind staggers. if he was
not already suffering from bolts he had
good grounds for libel suit against his
personal appearance, he was broken
winded, knock kneed and double Joint
ed: he was. in short, caricature Of a
horse. The only reason my friend, the
field cornet. had for desiring him was
that he had a horse at home which
just matched mine in color and size.
Much TO the Beers disgust l remained
unconvinced and he had TO journey on
without my Rozinante.
Ready For War.
The notice given the burgher to take
the field is usually extremely short. The
South African native chief is not in the
habit of sending an ambassador de-
claring his intention of making war He
has a bad dream or a fit of indiges-
ton; his fathers spirit has appeared to
him or his cows are bewitched or some
thing or other happens. so he summons
his warriors and begins raiding. The