The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-01-02

:" OOIDORP Is very like every
other South African up-coun-
try town, IL stands lonely on
the weld. Probably some so
years & the site was occupied only
by q large farmstead which increased
Its size and importance with the rise
of the mex generation OF the Marais
family. Some n hit on the spot as
a good stand for q native store, the
predicant was given n piece of lind for
a church which could be the center Of
religious life for q district covering
many miles, avs the Christian Sci
ence Monitor.
Twenty years ago the S. A. II.
(SOuth African Government Railways)
a a line through on its way to tap
n more important center and set up a
HALT" which by this time has grown
into a little wood and iron station
where the traveller bound for Rooidorp
finds himself at six I'm the morning,
after having journeyed all through the
night. Quite early the preceding eve
hlhS iV tNaNNo liz oii W
hours t~raverses the open weld, the
high Karee-fiat, 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 ii
is not easy to time an arrival Of such
a team. The train may be two hours
late, but no one appears to are 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 a 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
I'm the everyday life OF the inhabitants.
1t is the reception room for casual call
ers. "OOm Jan" car keep an interest
ed eye or the dOings of his neighbOrs
and exchange the news Of the day with
all and sundry who have driven in
from the outlying farms.
The towns central outspan, which
generally speaking, corresponds to the
market squares Of towns elsewhere,
Is particularly interesting at nacht-
maal. This quarterly communion serv-
ice justifies what is often a wearisome
journey. The trek wagon is hauled out,
from ii to 16 oxen are ~inspanned, and
the whole family Chambers up and
makes itself comfortable under a tent.
Full provisions are taken and gener-
ally a gift in kind for the predicant.
AS one wanders round the outspan
he will see n Of the most heteroge-
o collections Of humanity and its
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 q Kafiir can
do almost from birtb-nothing-he
does it more thoroughly than anyone
else on the face of the earth. He
finds complete cOntentment In sun
basking. Sitting under the tent on
the wagon is the major portion of the
family, while underneath are the
youngsters. Drawn up In lines are
other miscellaneous vehicles. The
whole scene, were the town buildings
removed, would recall scenes from the
time of the voortrekers.
Four Important Buildings.
There are four buildings of impor.
lance In all typical dorps: First is the
polite kantoor (police depot) which
Is the center for q large area. The
members Of this mounted force have
not only the supervision of a very
scattered body Of whites, but also the
oversight of a large native population.
1t says much for the fair way In which
the natives are handled and for their
naturally peaceable natures, that the
offenses to be dealt with are usually
OK q trivial character.
Next in Importance among the
buildings Is the church; plain almost