The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-28

err" 1t was a merry gathering for
guests had come from a neighbor-
ing farm to enjoy one of the all-day
larks which are so characteristic of
farm life among the Beers in South
Africa. When We had INDUCED in
the savory pig until any more would
have been a "superfluous superflutty,"
a single bowl of water and towel
were passed down the line beginning
with our host!
This ceremony being performed a
grand rush for the open air was made
where we found that a full moon was
shining in all its glory-and it does
shine some" down there on the
South African veIdt. A ring was
soon cleared in front of the house
and to the music of a concertina the
young people danced wild sort of
waltz. becoming more and more en-.
tranced as faster and faster the airs
were played.
BY ten o'clock the day visitors were
'-trektng'' back to their farms nearby,
the children being luiled to sleep by
the screeching of the colonial"
driver, the cry of a jackal. the occas-
ional hooting Of an owl, the growl Of
distant lion. and the various other
nocturnal sounds peculiar to the South
African veldt.
When yawning got to the contag-
ious stage it was proposed that we
retire, Including some relatives who
were making a weeks visit at the
farm and myself, there were twelve
of US. and I was curious to see how
we would all be slowed away. for
the house could boast Of but a single
bedroom.
Packed in, sardine-like. on the floor
of the combination dining and living
room we-the male contingent
stretched out to crest our. weary
it seemed-with snoring humanity on
either side, unable to change my po-
sition for fear of disturbing some
one 1 felt like a compressed sheet
sandwich, and had become quite des-
perate in fact when our host called
out in a loud voice, 'fpindula" "a ma
tive word meaning turn around) and
much to my relief the entire line
Topped overi
wild Animals No Longer.
was awakened by the last croak
before dawn of a bass-voiced bull
frog, and was soon starting out in
the refreshing air of a winters morn
ing. with our host, Mr.. Jelleman, for
an early stroll. The first incident of
note occurred when a young zebra,
which had been captured but a short
time previous, came running up with
out a trace of fear and puckered up
his little mouth as a hint for me to
scratch his nose. A phenomenal sight
was that of a pair Of eland-the larg-
est Of the South African antelope
pair of donkeys and two small zebras,
"inspanned'' to a light cart. Although
Mr. Jelleman had not reached the
stage in their training where his
beasts of the forests could be of any
practical use on the farm, still he was
making great progress towards that
end.
A disease swept through Rhodesia
in 1902 and carried off rs per cent
of the cattle of the country. Mr.. Jel-
leman finding himself short of the
~ nf frqnRnnrf
ceived the idea Of roping in the wild
beasts for that purpose. His first
attempts were not success. but an
other season a method was employed
Gland were the victims A squirt was
made on horseback and the rider
when abreast of the animal would
catch hold of his appraised tail and
| slide deity from the saddle to his
back Thus mans supremacy over
Jelleman's version of the tactics en-
ployed.
| we visited a tobacco seed bed,
| which was to supply plants for fifty
acres of ground. tramped over a 100
acre field which was to be planted in
corn as the season advanced. and in
| spected a promising orchard, inc1ud-
| ing orange, lemon, Quava, plum, april
cot and other trees.
One thing that was conspicuous was
| the lack of any system in methods
employed. The tools were. reposing
| tust where they had last been used,
and the great barns seen on the farms
of Kansas were a. quantity unknown.
In fact the house itself was con-
structed of poles plastered with mud
and the inside finishings, including
| the floors was of the same material.
A Boer housewife would not be con-
tented with anything else.
FRANK A SNOW
PAY RON Amounted to $500, 900.