New-York tribune., 1900-09-02
THE VELDT.

It is q bad thing 10 travel in a country during
way time even when you are familiar with its
language, but It is far worse when you only
know enough Of the native tongue to make your
se6 misunderstood have managed to get my
self intD some gorgeously picturesque situations
Gn this account and more than once have vowed
ID master the BOer dialect or wreck my talking
apparatus IN The attempt II is not easy Ian
guage 70 learn II IS very Ike their kopjes-steep
rough rocky and disjointed; and, like the kopjes,
you cant take il by storm. but must climb
steadily and with patience, and make sure of
one SEP before you venture the next Il is
e superb language TO use when one is driving
bullOCks OF blacks: the first sentence seems to
rn1 OF the lips like a maIediction, and the sec
end chops on short like the bark of toy terrier.
I should ask for no finer form Of speech on
earth if / wanted TO curse mine enemy, but how
OF earth they manage 10 make love with II
passes my comprehension Still. I thought it
might come handy if only to frighten Aus
traliau horses with. and kept constantly the
lookout for a chance 10 learn. and verify my
chance came unto me in due season I didn't
learn the dialect but 7 learned something else
which may prove equally useful in later life.
We had pitched camp for week, in order to
allow the ever dallying provision conveys TO
catch up 10 US; obtaining permission from
headquarters, saddled up and rode out to do a
little scouting my own account. For I have
long since learned tina its use hanging
around camp II you want 10 know anything
about the real life Of the folk who dwell in the
land About six miles from our lines I ran
against a dainty little farmhouse cuddIed up
against the slope Of a shrub covered kopje- On
oas side OF the dwelling a trelIis work of vines
broke the wind. and on the other long, double
NV OF orange trees beautifed the scene. Tail
graceful poplar trees whispered in the wind at
both front and rear, while q pretty flower garden,
fragrant with flowers, spread far away II front
Gf the substantial dwelling. 1 admiring
these things from my horses back when it sud
denly dawued upon me that I had possibly
played the imbecile in straying far from
camp. But it vas too late 10 bang back II the
farmer folk were friendly. I was in luck; for
the inside q such = dwelling could not be i'll
supplied with creature comforts. IF, however
they were hostile was at their mercy had
70 desire 70 match my pony's pace against the
fight Of e Mauser bullet; SO. humming song and
thinking Of q psalm I rode forward as if certain
e q kindly welcome. An elderly Boer with q
kindly face met me at the door, and gave me the
time Of day with al civility, a niger lad took
hold Of my bride, and I swung myself out of the
saddle just in time TO receive a civil greeting
from the farmers wife-healthy, wholesome,
substantial. well fed and well clothed They in
vited ne inside. and there their four daughters
introduced themselves to me They all talked
English az well as I could, and before had
been there twenty seconds I had arrived at the
conclusion that I should never get a better
chance to study the language Of the people Of
our foes and determined 10 sacrifice myself
upon the finty shrine Of duty. Three Of the
uaaidens we're plain faced, good, honest looking
girIs but the fourth had a face ike a young
preachers first public prayer-a face that many
q man would risk his life for
So much Of my whole career has been passed
amid the roUgher and more rugged scenes OF
life thai description CT. dainty womanhoOd
cones aWkWardIy from But have read
50 much about the ugliness and clumsiness Of
the Boer women in British journals that I
shouId ike 70 try to describe this daughter
of the veld.- although only farmers daUgh-
ter do not know If she should be called short
r tai but her cheek could have nestled COM
fUrrably on me shoulder OF a fairly tail man l
don't know how much hair she had but there
was enough Of il TO make a fellow feel as If it
didn't matter q rap II half the earth was bald
II vas not red yellow; il was like honey,
kissed by sunshine She had the sort Of fore
head which one never sees the face OF
%ool Natures signboa for emporium OF
brains Her eyes were large. brown and fear
less not bold nor yet wavering. Her mouth
was perfect not one Of those sepulchres which
sisAe71re some feminine faces: not childishly
~-,au Ike a bud bursting into bloom, but q