Peculiar People.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 276, 30 October 1902, Page 4

Peculiar People.

The Doukhobohs, whose peculiar conduct has recently attracted attention, and who are now, it seems, seeking to settle in British Columbia, went to Canada about two years ago. They are members of a Russian sect of " primitive " Christians, communists, who live their daily life as nearly as possible according to the Sermon on the Mount. Their doctrine of passive resistance to evil brought them into conflict with the Russian Government because ihey declined to serve in the army, and they were subjected to official persecution. Friends in Great Britain negotiated with the Canadian Government for a grant of land, and a number of the Doukhobohs emigrated. Each family received 160 acres of land in the North-west Territory, but their conscientious objections to recognising the government of man in any shape or form led them to refuse the title deeds. They were,

however, allowed to form their , settlement, where, among other pesuliarities, these simple people have, like the early Christians, all things in common. " When I was in the Yorkton district recently," said a Canadian official to a London interviewer, " I was greatly struck by the prosperity of the place. For so young a settlement, even in Canada, —the land of plenty —the contented and joyous expression of the people was remarkable, and this I attribute to the energy and perseverance of the men and the excellent housekeeping qualities of the women."

Yorkton, which is the head- ! quarters of the Doukhobohsi ; Settlement, is some 250 miles west of Winnipeg. A number of these settlers recently conceived the idea that the servitude of domestic animals was utterly repugnant to Divine wishes. They therefore turned horses and cattle loose, put away their leather shoes, and refused to eat butter and eggs. The whole settlement, happily, was not affected by the movement, but the mania threatened to spread. Men harnessed themselves to ploughs and waggons, and the women worked in the fields with spades and hooka. The stock was not long allowed to run wild, because less religious settlers collected some, of the animals, whilst others were gathered together by order of the Government. It is hoped that reason will prevail emong the fanatics, but if they absolutely refuse to return to their formerhabits the stock will be sold*, and, the proceeds used to, feed and, clothe the »ettlera during the. winter.