The Indianapolis world., 1900-01-27
TRANSVAAL STORIES.
Beers Methods of Doing BUSINESS
Are Entertaining To the Anglo
Saxon.

In q small curve off the main road
stands q long, low, galvanized iron
building. with a broad stoOp and an
overhanging veranda. Behind it is
narrow stretch of cultivated land,
hemmed in by sod wall, and back of
all small cluster of young eucalyptus
trees. The blazing sun beats down on
the iron roof with a fierceness to
which the galvanized sheets lend still
greater intensity, and the blankets.
clothing and other goods in the store
still further aid. The atmosphere in
the shop can best be described by the
remark made in the writer's hearing
by an intelligent, but irreligious, trav-
eIer. that man who could live in
a Transvaal store would freeze to
death in hell"
But the trader does not mind this;
or if he does, he doesn't say so.
Dressed in trousers, light shoes and
flannel shirt, he reclines on a conve-
nient part of the counter, and with
the aid Of his pipe passes the time un-
til a customer arrives. Should the GUS
toner be white man, the storekeeper
and he as a rule retire into the little
side room for a few minutes, and
bottle and a couple of glasses will be
produced. Should he. on the other
hand, be a niger, the trader glances at
him casually, and, without moving,
asks him what he wants. He does
this because Kaffirs often want some
thing which they know the storekeep-
er has not got. The Katfir is gregar-
ious, and likes to have chat, especial
ly with a. white man. When such is
the case the trader can tell the niger
to be off, without disturbing himself
in any way. This saves trouble. The
shelves in the back bf the shop are
piled up with gaudy blankets, clothing
of all descriptions, timed goods, clocks
and vases cheap "jewelry" and vari-
Gus other commodities. Below these
shelves are the bins where the sugar,
flour, meal, coffee, ETC., are kept.
On one side are the small shelves
where the patent medicines stand.
This is the most important branch IN
the Transvaal up-cOuntry trade, and
the trader as a rule, acts as medical
adviser to the whole neighbOrhOOd.
The average Boer takes more medl-
cine than the worst hypOchOndriac in
any other part of the world. This Is
owing to indigestion. The BOer is pa
tient and long-suffering in some re-
spects, but when it comes to a case of
sickness he is in n hurry. He wants
to get right at once, and so he goes
to the store, and, acting on the advice
of the trader, buys q remedy. When
he finds in n couple of days that the
medicine has not cured him he imme-
diately jumps to the conclusion that 1t
is no good. He then, relying on his
own Judgment, buys some other medi-
cine, and starts in on that At the
same time. if he gets n chance, he will
iump q sample of something else to
have a go at when he has got tired
of the other. How on earth he keeps
alive is a mystery. 1t must be that
the climate saves him. I can't account
for it in any other way.
Outside the store, on the stoOp. are
the agricultural implements, pIows,
harrows. new American inventions Of
all sizes and descriptions that are too
big or too heavy to he carried away
easily. ard at all hours Of the day.
from early morn until sunset, mig
ger attirpd in soldiers old red coat
is seated on one of these articles.
Where this darky comes from Is Il
puzzle During n long acquaintance
with the TranSvaal | have never IL
rived at n store without encOunterinG
one of these objects on the stOOp. In
fact. used to look for him. and one
occasion won a substantial stake by
betting with a companion that we
would find Kaffir in a soldiers coat
at the first three stores we arrived at.
He. of course. lost the bet, and being
2 newcomer seemed ut first to think
that had some hand in having these
people there. but he has long sine"
grown wiser. and knows by this time
| that the Soldier Kaffir" is as much
| an adjunct of the Transvaaf trading
! .torp as a ghost Is Of n respectable
| English castle. the only difference bn-
! ing that the former is much moro in
| evidence. AS the sun goes down and
! the evening closes in the storekeepnr
! comes outside and watches TIC
| change. after which he retireS TO his
small bedroom, and his boy brings
| him his supner he oats this aud thpr
! lights his DiDc and turns into bed: an.
! other half hour sees the light die out
in his window. and the house givcr
over TO sleep. At the first break oi
dawn he is awakened by the boz
bringing him his coffee. and he ther
gets un, unlocks the doors. and nre
pares FOR another day. 1t is not a cher
ful life. but to the men who lead i
has a strange fascination. and "onct
a BOer trader ALWAYS a Boer trader |:
a stock saying in the Transvaal.-NeN
i York Press.