New-York tribune., 1901-05-19
THE BOERS IN CEYLON.
y GOOD THING TO BE BRITISH MILITARY
PRISONER.
From The London Express.

PRISONER
From The London Express.
If criterion may be taken by the condition
of Beer life in the laagsrs of Ceyion, it is
comparatively good thing 10 be military pris-
Oner of the British Government.
Nursed in a lap of modified luxury. the five
thousand trappers of the Veldt the island
well satisfied with their surroundings as
not to desire change until South Africa
touches normal once more.
The captives healthy and fit a crowd
ever stepped upon British possession and
a transpart rides at anchor in Colombo Bay
heffft Cf any Justification for her existence
there a hospital ship.
The Beers are accommodated in iron hUtS in
two camps. Zach of which is inclosed by
literal radius Of harbeQ wire fencing through
which the muzzles of a Maxim or two prutrude
Thc area is large. and the prise lers have album
dant exercise room. They are fond IF chatting
easy ann lallty. luSi as ihrY ustd I" 90 across
III" river trenches al Fourteen Streams for the
Hoer has quiet admiration for the British
private, and IN his ddys OF much case follows
his example in many things. including sport
The hot Eastern days are beguIcd with non
tXer'lVe recreation. and IN the cool tennis.
cricket and football form a self-appolnted cur
TiculuM Of athletic uastiW..
!! IS particularly interesting t. notct how
much the prisoners have taken To the purely
British game # football. Al the b ginning they
were content to watch the Seeker men of tho
garrison dribble. or To appaud the dextcrous
handling If the oval Then they joined in. and
Progressed II a ilimitlN" gam" Of their own
They have long since ceased 10 borrow the
tilcucestershirc Regime ut@ ball. they have a
dozen If their own. and uit the TransVadleTS
against the Free Staters. the doppers of the
back vedt against the "Johannesburgers.'
The troops usually start the play. and leave
off t. I.e a guard While tn. burShcrs attempt
the intricaccs of combination.
The appetite of the captives is abnormal, and
the influx Of many big eaters has actually
upset the local markets and brought about a
rs" in the price Of prorender Even the
Gloucester sentry cnvies the Roeg his supplies,
and is daily heard u hold forth upon the in
iquities Of Il commissariat v hich provides com
fortins extras for The cantives which find
r,acq in the regulars dietary But Tommy
EIUmbles eOcd-humurcdy. and would share his
ration any day with hungry Boer, just be
cause h. is the same brave, tough. tender. lien
hearted Atkins beloved Of all who know mis-
sterling qualities in the field.
Canmandants Krantz and Olivier and nearly
al tie offers live On parole outside the camps,
Many of them reside at the Queens Hotel,
kauGi. Including q number ct FreEchmen. who
hold alcCf from their former comrades-in arms.
CtterS, including percentage cl hurghers
who afford II, live in the bungalows of
I'r.rccrrlali-st and save that they report daily
the chief Of polio. enjoy the privileges Of
lesured resident or visitor.
Numbers of the men Rad carried cameras on
colnnIauGo and the Colombo apothecaTies have
hcen busy developing Ilates and films in great
numbers.
reserve cCInnand-Cs awaiting the result of the
battle f Culenso. The snapper" was 50 excited
when the result became known that he forgot
u urcyS the button cn the wild scene OF joy
winch sureed about his kodak. And so a
i.iariaL'e setias Of natal ph tos is incomplete.
: q .sheaJ Of the stock EXCHANGE has several
interesting specimens, the hurshers being quite
willing to turn a penny with tn -iT films
NrouW KrantZ. the wife Of the commandant. is
,,rnud Of having carried a riff commando
with her husband. Guests at the Queens Hotel
often hear the good lady recount her bag of
re-, -nsl,s. There is not a suspicion of animus
shown against the British. The captVes
grateful for good quarters and liberal treat
mcT:
Many Beers are voluntarily employed on the
foreshore works at c, lJmbo At wage, and one
al least has been installed into the Of
.orisforta bic government billet. This fellow
means to stay. and has sent for his Vr0uw.
Such is burghor life in the laagers of Ceylon,
where there is a phiusophc calm and ab-
sencc # worry about war. The veldtborn look
about them with a well fed and leisured ndf
ference and some say that when they cross the
Vaal again there viii be 4 big trek north to
alien territory.
var REJNG BIRD