THE DUTCH SETTLERS OF SOUTH AMERICA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 340, 15 December 1879, Page 2

THE DUTCH SETTLERS OF SOUTH AMERICA.

Next perhaps to the minister, whose position, both in the western part of the colony and in the Free State, is quite supreme, the district surgeon is the man of greatest important. There is nothing which a Dutchman looks upon as so requi site as physic. He will send hundreds of miles to procure it, and although extremely penurious in all other ways—niggardly in fact to the last penny—he will not scruple at the slightest symptom of illness to send for the doctor. Should a surgeon once obtain repute, deservedly or otherwise, his fortune is certainly made, The most ridiculous circumstances often ensure to him this good luck, and the amount of money he receives yearly is sometimes surprising. I was told that a medical practitioner lost his credit by simply prescribing the use of liberal ablutions to an elderly lady. Her husband was dreadfully angry, making his remonstrance in the following terms—- " Young man, you are a stranger in this country, and recommend new customs,which are contrary to usages which we know to be the true rules of health. I have been now married to my ' vrow' for thirty-five years, during which time water has scarce touched her body. It is not, sir, by your persuasion that such inroads can be made into our manners; you are ignorant of our mode of life and do not understand our wants." About four years ago a storekeeper received some glass balls about the size of eggs amongst his fancy goods from England. Soon after a rather tiresome woman, the wife of a farmer, came to his store. To ?et rid of her, he gave her one of these cut balls, tailing her that'he had found it on her husband's farm. The old woman took it to her bird and master, who- at once felt convinced it was a diamond, and that he was possessed of great riches, as he knew from the size and brilliancy of the stone that it must be enormously valuable. He was ill three days with delight, and then drove over to Wymberg, to dispose of it, enhancing its value to the storekeeper there by showing him it was found already cut. No persuasion could convince him that he had been made the victim of a hoax. There is no doubt, however, that stray diamonds are occasionally found. Mr Barker told us that he had purchased one of five carats weight, which he had every reason to believe was found on the veldt, not far from his own house, Some little time before our arrival a German conjuror had visited this distant little village, when the Dopperf were so alarmed j at his tricks, that they left the room in! which he was exhibiting, and, assembling iu prayer, entreated to be relieved of the devil who had come amongst them.—' My Command in South Africa, 11 by General Sir Arthur Charles Cunynghame, G.CB.