THE BOERS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2437, 10 January 1881, Page 4

THE BOERS.

A letter in the “ Times ” thus discribes the Boer of whose doings in South Africa so much is heard at present: —“The Boer is physically a stout fellow, tine looking and healthy. He is moreover a sober man who seldom or never touches intoxicating liquors. Otherwise his habits, as a rule, to which there are ns usual some exceptions, are not nice. He is indifferent to “ cleanliness or comfort—a sloven; his bouse is a piggery.” His whole library for the most part consists of the Bible, which is to be found occupying a place of honor in every house, and of which, as we have already seen, he makes the most excellent use. He is besides attentive in all respects to his religious duties as he understands them, and of course a strictly and intensely Biblical race must understand them thoroughly. If such were not the case, our “ Evangelist ” friends and the Bible Society in all its branches would continually only open their mouth to put their foot in it, as Joe Miller pleasantly says, and that we know is quite an impossibility. Of these pious people we are told, then, that “Once a quarter they ‘ trek ’ with their families to the nearestjplace containing a church, in order to attend the ‘Nachtmal,’ or Communion. Before Saturday evening the outskirts of the town or village resemble a large fair. Sunday, from morn till dusk, is given up to different religious services for both old and young.” Hospitality does not, however, enter generally into the Boers’ notions of Christianity. “ A traveller arriving for the first time at a Boer’s house is by no means sure of a hearty reception.” Neither is his entertainment particularly agreeable when he is fortunate enough to find admission : —“ On entering the house the stranger shakes hands all round, is asked to sit down, and presented with an excellent cup of coffee, which is always kept ready in a large metal urn. He must not be surprised if the carcase of a slaughtered buck is hanging behind him from a rafter, nor must his nerves be overpowered by the smell of sour milk, dried hides, or ‘ biltong ’ (dried meat) in course of preparation. . . . Besides the cup of coffee, no refreshment is offered to the stranger until the hour when the usual family meal is served. He may be starving with hunger, having, perhaps, travelled for hours without food, but this never seems to enter into the mind of his host. . . . When bed-time comes the traveller may be told to make himself comfortable on the settee —by no means an easy task ; but he must not be surprised to find himself sharing with the whole family the one sleeping-room ; for it is only the larger houses that can boast of extra sleeping accomodation. With morning comes the daily ablution ;. . . a basin of water and one towel are brought into the room, and commencing with the seniors, the cleansing process is carried out by the whole of the family, the stranger last on the roster, no change of water or towelling being apparently considered necessary. A refusal to perform this unpleasant duty almost amounts to an insult.” Education, moreover, is not amongst the things made desirable by the scriptural enlightenment of these people. “Education amongst the Boers is most elementary, and they are opposed to any improvement in this direction. Tutors, men born in Holland and of most inferior education, are engaged by the more wealthy and superior farmers to educate their children in the rudiments of the ‘ three R’s.’ I can quote an instance of a well to do parent warning one of the professors as to the limits to which he desired the studies might extend; —‘ Let them learn to read that they may read their Bibles, to write so that I can understand their letters; teach them sufficient arithmetic to enable them to count the stock. I am not going to make them storekeepers to stand behind the counter, so do not require them to be accountants.” It is moreover, quite consistant with their interpretation of the Scriptures that they should cherish enmity and hatred even against another branch of the great Protestant family. “In many districts of the Transvaal the strongest feeling against the English is displayed. One who is well acquainted with the Boers writes :—“ I have often found the feeling against us more bitter among those families in which resided a Hollander tutor. This class of men, combined with those who by the annexation were deprived of all sorts of petty official appointments,have, in my opinion, done much to aggravate the discontent of the superior class of farmers by ill-founded complaints and accusations against the new form of Government.’ Among the lower class, or ‘ Hopper Boers,” there are many still smarting under imaginary wrongs, dating so far back as the time when their fore-elders ‘ treked ’ before the English advance in the more southern colonies. I feel certain that many of these would sooner admit a Caffre than an Englishman across the threshold of their houses. Cases might be quoted in which a night’s lodging even in an an outhouse, has been positively refused to the English traveller,” Finally, our Boers are taught exclusiveness by their Christianity ; they evidently carry their Calvinism to its logical conclusion and hold the reprobate to be past praying for. “ A few months ago,” says the writer from whom we quote, “ a company of (English) Infantry was quartered at Standerton, a small village situated about 100 miles South of Pretoria. Thu Dutch inhabitants refused permission to the military authorities for the use of their church for Divine service on Sundays, and forbade their minister from officiating to the troops.”