The Boers are trained irregular troops from their
birth. A lad is first taught to ride a calf, and then a
horse. At a certain age he has a rifle given to him, and
two cartridges at a time. After a few occasions he must
not return empty handed, even if he only brings a bird,
or punishment ensues. A Boer in a fight stands behind
his horse if in the open, like a dragoon; only the dragoon
is taught late in life, and the Boer and horse have
grown up together and are one. In a campaign he only
requires some dried meat—beltong—attached to his
saddle, and a bottle of hollands or water; his rifle and
cartridges are secured around his body; his horse will
live on the grass of the veld: thus he is fully equipped,
and baggage and commissariat unrequired and unknown.
Whether in future years they will maintain their
wonderful proficiency as marksmen, now that the big
game is almost exterminated, is at least open to much
doubt; and in after years it is probable that the Boer
(not the Hollander), with all his weaknesses, prejudices,
and undoubtedly fine qualities, will be but a story that
is told. It must always be remembered that not nearly
all the Boers were called up in the late war; while
some of the richer combatants had two or three young
Kafirs behind them with spare rifles, which they loaded
and passed to them.
Another cause of the war was the question of the
official language. The convention clearly stated that
English and Dutch were to be used; but English soon
became dominant, and thus a grievance arose. English
residents in the Transvaal at the present time must not
therefore complain overmuch that Dutch has been made
the official tongue.
The President lives in a homely style, and receives
no company. His house is not situated in the best
part of Pretoria, and there is nothing to denote the
abode of the chief of the executive, save a flag-staff and
a lounging sentinel. 1 advisedly use the word lounging,
for I passed daily, and have seen these sentinels looking
perfect victims of ennui and assuming such positions
as would drive a European drill-sergeant to despair.
Thrift marks the Presidential residence. In the spring
I witnessed his small front flower-garden being
arranged for the coming summer. Two small
beds were being bordered by reversed empty glass
bottles, the outer border being composed of wine-,
the inner border of lemonade-bottles. It was a pity
that all the labels had not been washed off; but
still the arrangement illustrates the homely and
economical, if not artistic, tastes of President Kruger.
It must not, however, be imagined that these bottles
had been emptied in his establishment, as his honour
is practically a total abstainer.
The power and influence of the President are best
exemplified at the deliberations of the Iiaad. When
great opposition is manifested to a measure which the
President is anxious to pass, he will frequently adjourn
the House to the following day, and in the meantime
have an interview with the principal dissentients and
afford them further reasons for its advocacy. Many of
the Boer representatives are bewildered by financial
schemes they do not understand, and by political moves
which they think affect their rugged independence, and
it is then that these personal explanations so largely
contribute to the progress of business. •
The President is thoroughly in accord with his people
as to the belief in direct action of a Special Providence
guiding the fortune of the Transvaal; and their present
position is still a source of devout wonder to most of the
Boers, many of whom really believe that at the last war
they actually beat the whole British Army. Of course
the President—who has three times visited this country—
and the other officials are not under these hallucinations,
but looking back at their early experiences much crudity
of thought is readily explainable.
An extract from the President’s speech at Krugersdorp
last year, when the memorial stone was laid of the new
Government Buildings there, will readily show his strong
feelings on this point *. “ Burghers,” he exclaimed,
* The speeches recently made at the Paardebaal celebration last December
more strongly emphasize these -views.
D