The mirror., 1919-07-24
OOIDORP is very like
every other South Afri-
can up-country town, it
standS lonalv on tho void

NSRASgH can up-country town, it
- stands lonely on the weld.
Probably some 80 years ago the
site was occupied only by a large
farmstead which increased its size
and importance with the rise of the
next generation of the Marais fam
lily. Some one hit on the spot as
a good stand for a native store, the
predicant was given piece of land
for church which could be the
center of religious life for a district
covering many miles. says the Chris
tian Science Monitor.
Twenty years ago the S. A. r.
(South African Government Rail-
ways) ran a line through on its way
to tap a more important center and
set up Halt 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 evening
he leaves the mountains and for
hours traverses the open weld, the
high Karee-flat. dreary and COW
cred with scrub and cactus, with
rarely any sign of habitation.
The traveller will find the usual
rural collection of carts and con-
veyances of all types standing at
the station outspan, from the subj
quitous Ford to the old-world OK
wagon with its IA steers, beside
which slept its native driver with
his sjambok (whip) of rhinosceros
hide. He had most probably been
there for some hours, for it is not
easy to time an arrival of such
team. The train may be two hours
late, but no one appears to care in
this land where time seems to be so
cheap.
In these towns practically all the
houses are of the bungalow type
and land is cheap. Each house has
a large garden, sometimes large
enough to be called a farm in most
countries. The climate has called
for two important notifications
the lofty roof and the broad stoep.
As we wander round the town we
quickly observe the important part
this wide veranda plays in the ev-
eryday life of the inhabitants. 1t is
the reception room for casual call
ers. "Oom JAM can keep an inter-
ested eye on the doings of his neigh
bors. exchange the news of the day
with all and sundry who have driv-
en- in from the outlying farms.
The towns central outspan, which
generally speaking, corresponds to
the market squares of towns else
where. is particularly interesting
at nachtmaal. This quarterly COM
munion service justifes what is Of
ten wearisome journey. The trek
wagon is hauled out, from IA to 16
oxen are inspanned, and the whole
family Chambers up and makes it.
self comfortable under a tent. Full
provisions are taken and generally a
gift in kind for the predicant.
As one wanders round the out
span he will see one of the most
heterogeneous collections of hu-
manity and it's trappings. In the
far corner is a typical group, a
wagon drawn up, the oxen away
grazing, the Zulu servants tending
the fire, preparing a meal or doing
to perfection what a Kafir can do
almost from birth-nothing-h
does it more thoroughly than any,
one else on the face of the earth.
He finds complete contentment
in snn-basking. Sitting under the
tent on the wagon is the major por-
ton of the family, while under
meath are the youngsters. Drawn
up in lines are other miscellaneous
vehicles. The whole scene, were
the town buildings removed.