Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1919 — Up Country in South Africa. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Up Country in South Africa.

ROOIDORP 18 very like every other South African uivcbuntry town, it stands lonely 00 the veld/ Probably some SO years ago the site was occupied only, by a large farmstead which increased its size and importance with the rise —of trpn prattonroF the Mtirats family. Some one hit on the spot as ■ a good stand for a native store, the ; predicant was given a piecWrt land for a church which could he the center of 7 religious life for a district covering many miles, says the Christian Sci- j ence Monitor. Twenty years ago the S. A. R.; (South African Government Railways) ran a line through on its way to tap . a more important center up a “Halt,” which by this time has grown Into a little wood and iron station where the traveler bound for Rooidorp finds himself at six in the morning, after having journeyed all through the night Quite early the preceding evening he leaves the mountains and for hours traverses the open veld, we high Karee—flat, dreary and covered with scrub and cactus, with rarely any sign of habitation. The traveler will find the usual rural collection of carts and conveyances of all types standing at the station outspan, from the übiquitous Ford to the old-world ox wagon with its 14 steers, beside which slept its native driver with his sjambok (whip) of rhinoceros hide. He had most probably been there for some hours, for it is not easy to time an arrival of such a team. The train may be two hours late, but no one appears to care in this land where time seems to be so cheap. • Houses AH Bungalows. In these towns practically all the ■ houses, are of the bungalow type and land is cheap, pad) house has a large garden, sometimes large enough to be called—a—farm rim most xmintrieak. The Climate has called for two important modifications —the lofty roof and the broad stoep?' As we- wander round the town we quickly observe the importatit part this’ wide veranda plays in the everyday life of the inhabitants. It is the reception room for casual callers. “Oom Jan” can keep an interested eye on the doings of his neighbors and exchange the news of thedayyvitfi all and sundry who have driven in from the outlying farms. The town’s central outspan, which generally speaking, ‘corresponds to the market squares of towns elsewhere, is particularly interesting at ngcht’ maal. This quarterly communion service justifies what is often a wearisome journey. The trek wagon is hauled out.

from 14 to 16 oxen are inspanned, and the whole faqyly clambers-up and makes itself comfortable under a tent. Full provisions are taken and generally a gift in kind for the predicant. j As one wanders round the outspan he will see one of the most heterogeneous collections of humahlty and its trappings. In the far corner is a typical group, a wagon drawn up, the f oxen away grazing, the Zulu servants - tending (he fire, preparing a weal or doing to perfection what a Kaffir can ’ do almost from birth —nothing —he does it more thoroughly than anyone else on the -face of the earth. He finds- complete contentment in sunbasking. Sitting under the tent on the wagon is the major portion of the fttmily. while underneath are the youngsters. Drawn up in lines are other miscellaneous vehicles. The whole scene, were the town,buildings removed, would recall scenes from the time of the voortrekers. •

Four Important Buildings. * There are four buildings of importance in.all typical dorps: First is the politic kantoor (police depot) which is the-center for a large area. The mpmhor* of this mounted force have not only the supervision of a very scattered body of whites, but also the oversight of a large native population. It gays much for the fair way In which the natives are handled and for their naturally peaceable natures, that the offenses to be dealt with art usually of a trivial character. \ Next in importance among the buildings Is the church; plain almost j‘ - - '■ • ■ ■■

to ugly severity but generally one of the most substantial buildings. Then comes the post office, with its bi-lin-gual notices; for, since the Boer war ami the settlement of the Union, the Dutch and English languages are now given an equal position even in districts which -are essentially English. Finally, there is the town hall. Every dorp aspires to a town hall, even though It be built of wood and iron. It may have to serve as u market hall, or even for a picture show at times. -The visitor’s general impression is that life is quiet and peaceable, no one seems to hurry, every one appears • have time to tarry and talk. Business often takes a second place in a store until the small social amenities haxe been exchanged. It is usual to apply the term “sleepy” to all dorps; the gentle accusation may be trtfe after the hurry of Durban dr Johannesburg, and certainly would be just if thinking in terms of New York. Life is happy, the air is warm, the simple necessaries are easily obtained, and, provided that one is not possessed by the -fiery ambition of the hustling type, peace and calm may easily compensate for the lack of some of the veneerof modern civilization which, after all, is so thin.

Bullock Cart of South Africa.