The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-04-27
A Daughter Of the Veldt.
! Experience Of a Deluded Briton

1t is bad thing to travel in coun-
try during war time, even when you
are familiar with its language, but it IL
far worse when you only know enough
of the native tongue to make yourself
misunderstood. have managed to gel
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 is very
like their kopjes-steep, rough, rocky
and disjointed; and, like the kopjes.
you can't take it 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
diction, and the second chops off short
like the bark of toy terrier. | should
ask for no finer form of speech on earth
IL | wanted to curse mine enemy, but
love with 1t passes my apprehension.
Still, thought it might come in handy
IL only to brighten Australian horses
with, and kept constantly on the look
out for chance to learn; and verify
my chance came unto me in due season.
l didn't learn the dialect, but 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 a
little scouting on my own account. For
l have long since learned that it's no
use hanging around camp II you want
to know anything about the real life of
the folk who DIVES In the land. About
six miles from our lines l ran against
a dainty little farmhouse cuddled up
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
orange-trees beautifed the scene. Tall.
graceful poplar trees whispered In the
wind at both front and rear, while a
pretty f1ower-garden, fragrant with
flowers, spread far away in front Of
the substantial dwelling. / was admir-
ing these things from my horses back
when 1t suddenly dawned upon me that
! had possibly played the imbecile in
straying SO far from camp. But 1t was
too late to hang back. II the farmer
folk were friendly. was in luck; for
the inside OF such a dwelling could not
be Ill supplied with creature comforts.
II, however, they were hostile, was at
their mercy, I had no desire to match
my pony's pace against the fight of a
Mauser bullet; so humming a song and
thinking Of psalm, rode forward as
II certain Of kindly welcome. An eld-
erly Boer with kindly face met me at
the door, and gave me the time of day
with all civility, lad took hold of my
bride, and l swung myself out of my
saddle just In time to receive a civil
greeting from the farmers wife
healthy, wholesome, substantial, we'll
fed, and well-clothed. They invited
me inside, and there their four daugh-
tiers introduced themselves to me. They
all talked English as we'll as could,
and before l had been there twenty
seconds l had arrived at the conclusion
that should never get better chance
to study the language of the people Of
our foes, and determined to sacrifice
myself upon the flinty shrine of duty.
Three of the maidens were plain-faced,
good, honest-looking girls, but the
fourth had face many a man would
risk his life for.
So much of my whole career has been
passed amid the rougher and more rug
ged scenes of life that description of
dainty womanhood comes awkwardly
from me. But l have read so much
about the ugliness and clumsiness of
the Boer women in British journals
that l should like to try and describe
this daughter of the veldt, although
only farmers daughter. l do not
know If she should be called short or
tall. but her cheek could have nestled
comfortably on the shoulder of fairly
tall man. don't know how much hair
she had, but there was enough of IL to
make fellow feel as IL 1t didn't mat
ter rap If half the earth was bald. II
was not red. nor yellow; it was like
honey, kissed by sunshine. She had
the sort Of forehead which one never
seees on the face of a fool. Nature,
sign-board for an emporium for brains
Her eyes were large, brown, and fear
less, not bold, nor yet wavering. Her
mouth was perfect. not one of those
sepulchres which disfgure some fem.
mime faces. not childishly small like 9
bud bursting into bloom, but a strong
true mouth. large enough for a prayer
to slip through, but not big enough t.
swear with. Her. waist would JUS
about fill the crook of a strong mans
arm, and make him feel that there wa.
no room for anything else under heav
en-. Her hands were shapely, brown
and strong, cracked little by wine
and weather; not toy hands, but hands
that could spank baby. or help hus
band back to paths Of rectitude whel
all the world had damned him past re
demption.
So she looked when saw her, and
said unto my soul: Verify it is
good thing for a man to know some
thing of his enemies language" and
made up my mind to learn. 1t wa
the fifth evening after that. and I ha,
registered my nth visit to the farm
when an event befell which put ap o.,