The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1919-02-27

~ try town, 1t stands lonely on
the weld. Probably some ~
years ago the site was occupied only
by large farmstead which Increased
It's size and Importance with the rise
Of the next generation of the Marals
family. Some one hit on the spot as
a good stand for a native store, the
predicant was given piece of land for
a church which could be the center OF
religious life for a district covering
many miles, says the Christian Sci
ence Monitor.
Twenty years ago the s. A. X.
(South African Government Railways
ran line through on its way to tap
q more important center and set up
SHalt," which by this time has grown
into a little wood and iron station
where the traveller bound for ROOidorp
finds himself at six in the morning,
after having journeyed all through the
night. Quite early the preceding eve
ming he leaves the mountains and for
hours traverses the open weld, the
high Karee-flat, dreary and covered
with scrub and cactus, with rarely any
sign Of habitation.
The traveller will find the usual
rural collection of carts and convey
ances Of all types standing at the
station outspan, from the ubiquitous
Ford to the old-world OK wagon with
its IA steers, beside which slept its
native driver with his sjambok (whip)
of rhinoceros hide. He had most prob
ably been there for some hours, for 1t
is not easy to time an arrival Of such
a team. The train may be two hours
late, but no one appears to care In
this land where time seems to be so
! cheap.
Houses All Bungalows.
In these towns practically all the
houses are Of the bungalow type and
land Is cheap. Each house has large
garden, sometimes large enough to
be called a farm in most countries
The climate has called for two impor
tant modifications-the lofty roof and
the broad stoep. AS we wander round
the town we quickly observe the i'm
portant part this wide veranda plays
in the everyday life of the inhabitants
1t is the reception room for casual call
ers. "Oom Jan" can keep an interest
ed eye ON the doings Of his neighbor:
and exchange the news Of the day will
all and sundry who have driven II
from the outlying farms.
The towns central outspan, which
generally speaking, corresponds to thu
market squares Of towns elsewhere
is particularly interesting at nacht
mail. This quarterly communion serv
ice justifies what is often wearisom'
Journey. The trek wagon Is hauled out
from IA to 16 oxen are inspanned, ant
the whole family Chambers up ant
makes itself comfortable under tent
Full provisions are taken and gener
ally gift In kind for the predicant.
As one wanders round the outspal
he will see one Of the most heteroge
neous collections Of humanity and 1t
trappings. In the far corner Is
typical group, a wagon drawn up. tn
oxen away grazing, the Zulu servant
tending the fire, preparing a meal o
doing to perfection what Kaffir cal
do almost from birth-nothing-
does 1t more thoroughly than anyon
else on the face Of the earth. III
finds complete cententment In sur
basking. Sitting under the tent o.
; the wagon is the major portion Of tn
family, while underneath are tn
youngsters. Drawn up in lines ar
other miscellaneous vehicles. Tn
whole scene, were the town building
: removed, would recall scenes from tn
time Of the voortrekers.
= Four important Buildings.
There are four buildings Of impol
lance in all typical dorps: First is tn
: polite kantoor (police depoD whic
a is the center for a large area. Th
i. members of this mounted force hay
i not only the supervision Of yer
: scattered body of whites, but also tt
Y oversight of large native population
8 It says much for the fair way in whic
t the natives are handled and for the
l. naturally peaceable natures, that Il
d offenses to be dealt with are usual
Il Of a trivial character.
+ Next in importance among Il
buildings is the church; plain almo