Part 24 (2/2)
We were very sad, Hans, ere obliged to return without you; but when aof you, we felt sure you h; it has been kept for you, and it is as you left it”
”And has there been peace in the land?”
”Yes, all has been peace Panda has kept faith with us, and will do so, I believe We have thus been able to sow corn, and the English soldiers have left us in possession of our country; and so we shall have peace in the district, and can govern ourselves as ish to do”
”That is good news, indeed,” said Hans; ”and now I aet to the Natal district and settle down”
We h he afterwards passed through ers of various kinds
Natal was not yielded to the Dutch Boers, but was clai but a region of entire peace
That portion of the history of the Dutch erants which we have here referred to is probably one of the eration nor high colouring to endoith interest to those who study the great ular legislation which may convert friends into foes
The fruitful and prosperous district of Natal had for years rerants rendered it faland has eventually derived an advantage fros which drove away above two thousand of her colonists; and now the erant who desires a crop with but little trouble, a lovely climate free from disease, and a country atered and fertile, may find these near where Hans Sterk selected his farm, and where Katrine became his bride
APPENDIX
THE DUTCH BOER OF SOUTH AFRICA
The terlish is used to describe a h, uneducated, and illiterate, ains his living by rural pursuits It is not uncommon to hear the Boers speak of their companions as ”_Mensch_”
(men), a distinction which they e to the disputes or battles which have taken place between the English ”_Roe-barges_” (red coats) and themselves
The Boers may be divided into two classes, viz the ”Field Boer,” and the ”Town Boer”
The Field Boer is a man who usually resides on his farenerally the owner of two or three ”_spans_” of oxen, as the teaons, and several horses for his own riding, which he is at all times ready to sell, if a chance offers He passes his ti after his farround that he cultivates is usually very s about the utht of the Field Boer, and he is very expert, both in following gae country, are the ame
”I think we shall here a rietbok find,” a Dutch the side of a rass and reeds; or ”Here--so look for a duikerbok,” as he rides ae loose stones near which are low thorny bushes and grass
The Boer is coe, heavy man, and disposed to become very fleshy as he advances in years This latter characteristic probably arises froely at hisbecomes to hi from one place to another is considered at once to be either eccentric or very poor
From some reason the Field Boer is rather disposed to look down upon the sporting prowess of Englishmen, but he not unusually finds himself beaten in a competition with those very men whose inefficiency he considered to be a certainty
Within quite modern tilish; viz when the Boers attacked the English troops in the Natal district, in 1842; and again in 1848, when the English, under Sir Harry Smith, attacked and defeated the confederate Boers at the battle of the Berea In both these encounters the Dutchmen showed an entire inability to withstand the attacks of disciplined troops, but at the same time displayedsuch stations that they ht be protected from the ene so rapidly that they escaped the usual results of a defeat As a coar, is still an a-craft It is from him that you may learn the habits and peculiarities of the many rare animals which inhabit South Africa The footprints of the various creatures, the localities where they may be found at different ti theerous animals, and, lastly, the adventures, successes, and escapes that have occurred either to him or to his immediate friends, form the ained froht and breadth of your father and grandfather, randmother, sisters, brothers, and friends, and received also a short account of the sporting capabilities of your male relatives
The Town Boer is usually a trader, and keeps a sort of general store, selling every thing, frounpowder, and a patent cure-every-thing pill
THE HOTTENTOT
The Hottentot has possessed certain peculiar characteristics ever since he was first discovered by Europeans He is dirty, idle, drunken, and hardy His idea of luxury is to dance to theimbibed