Chapter XVIII. 

 THE BOER OF TO-DAY. 



IN many respects the Boer of the present day- 

 exhibits but little change from his sturdy 

 forefathers of 200 years ago. He sees so little 

 of the busy outer world, of which he has no conception, 

 and no desire to know ; and surrounded by his usually 

 large family and his flocks and herds, he plods 

 dully along his life road, whether he be wine grower, 

 or pastoral farmer, or Trek, or wandering Boer, with 

 no wish to better or change his lot. In the Cape 

 Colony one day's routine exactly resembles another. 

 The family rise at dawn, and after a cup of coffee 

 and devotions, the flocks are unkraaled, and, in 

 charge of Hottentot or Kaffir boys, are despatched 

 to their pasture on the veldt or mountain until 

 the evening. If the Boer is a wine grower, the work 

 of the vineyard is directed, and tobacco and fruit 

 crops are looked after, and other matters put in train 

 for the day. At eight o'clock breakfast is eaten, and 

 at mid-day, dinner. Then follows a siesta, and at 

 sunset the horses, cattle, sheep, and goats are put 

 into kraal for the night. Then come the evening 

 meal and family devotions, and at eight o'clock, or 

 at latest nine, all are asleep. Smoking is vigorously 

 indulged in during the whole of the day, but this is 

 not an expensive luxury, as Boer tobacco costs little 

 or nothing to produce, and is sold at a retail price 

 of from twopence to sixpence per pound. Large 



