Evening journal., 1900-01-09

IN j Elliso iANG AbLrLoo VI NOl4O-
MEL F. F. HILDER. WHO MADE
TWO LENGTHY VISITS TO THE
COUNTRY, BEFORE THE MA
TIoNAL GEOGRAPHICAL So
Getty IN WASHINGTON.
Colonel F. F. Hilder, formerly an Of
ficer in the British Army, now employ
ed in the Bureau of American Ethnol-
Ogy, recently delivered a lecture on
British South Africa and the Trans
vaal' before the National Geographi-
cal Society at Washington. The dis
course assumed particular signifi-
canoe as an exposition OF the geologi-
cal conditions which prevail near the
Vaal river, a statement of race char
acteristics as observed during two
long visits in South Africa, and as the
first outline of the events which have
produced the war made by an officer in
the American civil service.
OF the geological conditions the
speaker said The Transvaal is an
elevated plateau lying within the outer
rim Of the vast South African table
land, between 1000 and 5000 feet above
sea level. In consequence of this great
elevation it enjoys a healthful and
invigorating climate. The Winter half
of the year-from March to September
lis dry and cool, especially during the
nights. The days are often as warm
as in Summer. During these months
cold, sharp winds blow from the south.
andthe mountain ranges are often COW
cred with snow for several days. Sud-
den changes of temperature often pro-
duce influenza and infiammatory affec-
tons, but, in spite of these, the NOR
tality is low,
The Transvaal has an area of 49,
139 square miles, and in 1898 its popu-
lation was estimated to be 1,O94,156, OF
which number 345,397 were whites
The white population has. however
been largely increased by the rush tc
the gold fields.
BOERS FEW IN NUMBER.
1.-The number of Beers included in
the enumeration of white inhabitants
is probably less than 100000. in the
whole Of South Africa the number Of
non-Boer white inhabitants, including
English and other foreigners, is 1885,
600. Those of Dutch descent number
43l 600"
Englands opponents in the presen
war were described as follows: 9TH,
Beers OF South Africa are the descend
ants OF the original Dutch and Huge
not colonists. Severed from the civil
zation of Europe 200 years ago the,
nave not kept pace with the progress
that has been made there and are in
tolerant and backward in their ideas
lhey have developed into a sturdy
self-reliant- people, great hunters, ant
men well fitted to cope with the saw
age animals and savage men witt
whom they have had to contend Il
their colonization of the wilderness
They have been for the most par
Stockholders, and the scarcity of pas
ture scattered them over n wide ares
Like all frontiersmcn. they have de
Ncloped a remarkable courage an
spirit OF Independence. They have ais
grown into a passion for solitude an
isolation. out of which has grown nc
only their Impotence Of control. but
neglect of the graCes. amenities An
even the decencies Of civilized lif.
showing little traces of their descer
from the cleancst and neatest peopl
or Europe. Livinr entirely In "a
open air, and mostly n the asd5l
they are strangely IGNORANT. The
have no literature and few newspaper
What reading thew d" Is confined al
most entirely to the Bible Their n
ligion is the sombre and stern Calvin
ism OF the seventeenth century. hosfil
TO all new light thorouebly Undue
with the spirit OF the Hebrew record
nt the Old Testament, aud with yer
little Of the Christian spirr Of kindns.
and mercy taught in the New.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
For years the Dutch ara Enelis