IQ2 SOUTH AFRICA. 



all more prevalent in the district I have mentioned 

 than in any other, and if I were inclined I could 

 enumerate many cases quite as notorious and 

 easily to be authenticated in various other parts 

 of the country. The subject is, however, a dis- 

 tasteful one to dilate upon in detail ; I should 

 have avoided mentioning it had it not been 

 necessary to elucidate the very peculiar features 

 of the religious and moral life of the Boers some 

 of whom I have known to quote texts from the 

 Old Testament exculpatory of those guilty of this 

 sin. 



The library of a Transvaaler is one of the com- 

 pactest possible, and is often comprised in the 

 possession of a huge brass-bound Family Bible. 

 The most treasured is one full of engravings repre- 

 senting Biblical events and personalities, not to 

 mention others whose habitat is said to be either 

 in more blissful regions than we are at present 

 acquainted with, or in the horrible depths of the 

 infernal territories. The normal Boer firmly 

 believes that these engravings are as correct in 

 details as photographs. Sometimes, or perhaps 

 generally, a few hymn-books swell the tale, and 

 that is all. The clergy discourage as much as 



