THE BOER. 27 



solidarity to the present moment is the only strength of 

 the Boer government, and when once faction commences 

 the liquidators of the present Republic will step in *. 



On October 5th occurred the first Dutch church 

 festival during my residence, and of which there are 

 several annually. To attend these the Boers travel 

 in their wagons with their families from all the sur- 

 rounding districts. Members of the church take the 

 Sacrament, and the younger people are examined and 

 admitted as church members. In former years the 

 Church Square was covered with tents and wagons 

 on these occasions, as the Boer has the right to out- 

 span on the Square, and still possesses the privilege, 

 which does not improve the sanitation of the town. 

 The government now by quiet persuasion endeavours 

 to induce these worshippers to camp outside ; but 

 most stand upon their "rights," though, as amongst 

 all people, there are found the few reasonable spirits 

 who listen to advice. I counted thirty-five wagons on 

 the Square this Sunday morning, with the tents under 

 which the families had slept, and towards evening 

 the oxen were gathered together, ready to inspan and 

 start homeward at daylight. Truely these Boers are 

 a strange and unromantic people, a mixture in religion 

 of the old Israelite and the Scotch Covenanter, and a 

 nasty people to manage if their religious prejudices 

 are attacked. I met the President walking to attend 

 this service with his Bible under his arm and his pipe 

 in his mouth. The President, however, belongs to 

 the Dopper branch of the Church, which still remains 

 intact, and the church is opposite the presidential 

 residence, and is regularly attended by his honour, 

 who sometimes conducts the services. The Doppers 

 are the Quakers and Plymouth Brethren of the Dutch 

 Church in the Transvaal. As a rule no instrumental 

 music is used in their services, and no hymns are 



* Since this was written the President has by conference settled this dis- 

 pute and has stated " that a serious danger to the State had been happily 

 averted by the combined ellbrts of the delegates '' ( ' Press ' Weekly Editiuu, 

 Sept. 5, 1891). 



