The St. Mary banner., 1901-04-13
A Daughter Of Tie VeIdt.
Experience Of a Deluded Brlton

Experience Of a Deludel Brlton
A~~~~~~A
1t is a bad thing to travel in a coun
try during war time, even when ycl
are familiar with its language, but it II
far worse when you only know enough
Of the native tongue to make yourself
misunderstood. l have managed to ge
myself into some gorgeously pictur.
esque situations on this account, and
more. than once have vowed to master
the Boer. dialect or wreck my talking
apparatus in the attempt. 1t is not
an easy language to learn. 1t il very
like their kopjes-steep, rough, rocky
and disjointed; and, like the kopjes
you can't take 1t by storm, but must
climb steadily and with patience, and
make sure Of one step before you ven
ture On the next. 1t is a superb Ian
guage to use when one is driving bull
locks or blacks; the first sentence
seems to roll off the lips like a male
Aiction, and the second chops of short
like the bark Of toy terrier. l should
ask for no finer form OF speech on earth
II wanted to curse mine enemy, but
how on earth they manage to make
love with it passes my apprehension.
Still, thought it might come in handy
n only to frighten Australian horses
with, and kept constantly on the look
out for chance to learn; and verify
my chance came unto me in due season.
didn't learn the dialect, but l learned
something else which may prove equal
ly useful in later life.
We had pitched camp for a week, in
order to allow the ever-dallying provis-
ion concoys to catch up with us; so,
obtaining permission from head-quar-
tiers, saddled up and rode out to do
little scouting on my own account. For
! have long since learned that it's no
use hanging around camp if3you want
to know anything about the real life Of
the folk who dwell in the land. About
six miles from, our lines / ran against
. dainty little farmhouse cuddled "
against the slope of a shrub-covered
kopje On one side of the dwelling a
trellis-work of, vines broke the wind,
and on the other long, double row Of
beautified the scene. Tall,
graceful poplar trees whispered in the
wind at both front and rear, while
pretty nower-garden, fragrant with
flowers, spread far away in front of
the substantial dwelling. I was admir-
Ing these things from my horses, back
when It suddenly dawned upon me that
! had possibly played the imbeeile in
straying 50 far from camp. But 4 was
too late to hang back. If the farmer
folk were friendly, was in luck; for
the inside Of such a dwelling could not |
be Ill supplied with creature comforts.
Il, however, they were hostile, was at |
their mercy, l had no desire io match
ny pony's pace against the flight of
Mauser bullet; so humming song and
thinking Of psalm, rode forward as
Y certain of kindly welcome. An eld-
eriy Boer with kindly face met me at
tne door, and gave me the time Of day
vith all cfvility, lad took hold of my
pfidle, and | swung myself out of my
saddle Just in time to receive a civil
gfeeting from the farmers wife
aealthy. wholesome, substantial, we'll
Eeo and well-clothed. They invited
&c inside, and there their four daugh-
- Introduced themselves to me. They
11stalked English as well as could,
and before l had been there twenty
Ieeonds had arrived at the conclusion
mat should never get better chance
e study the language of the people of
pur Toes, and determined to sacrifice
myseH upon the flinty shrine of duty.
knree OF the maidens were plain-faced,
s1od. honest-looking girls, but the
loerth had a face many a man would
* his life for.
90 much pf my whole career has been
leeed amiS,the rougher and more rug
"a scenes df life that description of
lnanty womanhood comes awkwardly
rom me. But l have read so much
np9kffhe ugliness and clumsiness OF
- Boer women in British journals
aatt should like to try and describe
nls daughter of the veldt, although
MY farmers daughter. l do not
now Y she should be called short or
= sout her cheek could have nestled
nlortably on the shoulder Of a fairly
nan. ! don't know how much hair
-, but there was enough Of it to
fellow feel as If it didn't mat
g enp Il half the earth was bald. 1t
- not Ped, nor yellow; it was like
.oney, kissed by sunshine. She had
e sort OF forehead which one never
- on the face Of a fool, Natures