Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-10-27
LAND OF AfRIKARDERS.
South Africa and Its People as
Seen by an American.
WAY THE BoERs TRAIN FOR WAR.

Children of Both Sexes Learn to Shoot
Before They Learn to Read-Their
Wonderful Army Food - Diamond
Field of the Future - BoerS Thor
ouRhiy Injured TO Hardships.
Harry S. Mlchaels OF st. Louis spent
three years in South Africa as pros
pector, having returned Early this year.
Michaels strenuously advises adven-
turous or fight loving Americans to
stay out of the country, says the St
Louis Republic. He says that 1t is not
al FL Dorado at present.
The Americans down there now are
none too popular. They are with some
exceptions not representatives OF the
United States and do not do us much
credit, outside OF those who represent
American concerns in a business way.
Johannesburg Is the center of the gold
country in the Transyaal. and for 90
miles around it every claim is pcgged
out and staked. The mining section
there il on a plain. Kimberley, which
Is 800 miles away, is the center of the
diamond field. II is in the Orange Free
State and Cape Colony neighborbood
and not in the Transvaal
MY belief is that the great diamond
field Of the future is around Pretoria.
As that Is the capital of the BOers' re-
public they have been jealous of for
elgners doing any prospecting there. II
too many miners got into the neigh
! horhood. guards would be needed, they
argued, and that would give England u
I chance TO send too many troops or po-
I lice into the Pretoria vicinity. That IS
the reason mining is discouraged near
Pretoria. The war Of course, may
change all this.
kruger is certainly plain man. He
sits on that famous porch OF his and
any man who cares may walk up and
be introduced and take Il cup Of coffee
with the president on the porch. The
government allows q good deal Of cof
fee money.
Colonel Badcn-Powell was in COM
mand at the Mashonso rebellion in
1896, while at the head of the BeChu-
analand police. saw him on horse.
back often In those days. He seemed
every inch n soldier. He is a young
looking man.
The Beers are certainly fine marks
men. When their boys and girls are
old enough 10 mount horse and han
die rife, they are told TO learn the
art Of riding and shooting. The boy
IS told to take a horse and get supper,
rIe Is not supposed to return TIL he
brings some game with him. | have
son them shoot the bottom out Of q
bottle by sending the ball through the
meek at 1000 yards. They will certain.
ly slaughter lots OF Englishmen before
the WAY IS over. The Boer children
learn 70 shoot and ride before they
learn 10 read.
Then. too. they have a great food
that makes q first class army ration
They call /; billtonguc. 1t is the tongue
Of deer or COW dried In the sun or
smoked TIL 4 looks like shoe leather
A Slice Of this placed In the mouth and
allowed 10 dissoi7e sustains Boer for
"a hours The hiiitonGues are hard rs
a rock and do not take Up much room
when the Boe:s are campaigning.
The TrauSTaal !: barren country
Water Is scarce. IN winter the Naal
the principal river, becomes swollen
and carries away bridges while IN
summer 1t dries up. hare seen water
carts going through johannesburg dur
ing the last drought and children with
cups following them in order TO catch
the drippings Of water The Beers
though, are Injured TO thirst and car
stand many hardShips.
Natal. on the other hand, Is the par
adse of South Africa 1t is green al
the time 1t Is never colder than sc
degrees there and the only ice you see
IS n thin coating Oh the cutters a
times In winter. Yet one feels the heal
and cold more there than In ST. Louis
as extremes are raTer. Durham is aE
pretty as picture. 1t has 10000 III
habitantS. OF whom 1900 are East In
/ uluuS, O,UOO are uullNSS hlu lIJe Ies
are whites. These Indians are filthy
live six and seven In room and cal
, undersell and underbid the white bus!
=, ness men and workingmen.
The country around Delagoa Bay II
a marshy, unhealthy place, which Il
valuable because It has the neares
seaport to the Transvaal. There Is s
r railroad extending from Lourenco Mar
ques on the bay shore to Pretoria
( Freight rates are very high In Soutl
e Africa, and it Is quite saving to shil
l goods TO and from Delagoa Bay to III,
( Transyaal rather than over the Cap,
( railway.
: Cape Town Is healthy place. bu
once IN awhile the stiff southeastern
r wind makes it very unpleasant there
Kingsbury Waterman Of st. Lou!:
|, who died last year, was the manage
+. of the Cape Town tramways or cleo
triC cars. lie vas engaged in plans t
e run electric cars along the streets o
:. Pretoria when death overlook him"
Submarine Treasures.