barley, potatoes, etc. — are not unimportant, attention will
be particularly directed — firstly, to mealies, the main crop
of the whole colony ; and, secondly, to wheat, the main
crop of what is commonly known as the conquered territory.
The former are planted chiefly in October, to be harvested in
April ; the latter is sown from April to June, and it is reaped
in December and January.
The Repatriation Department had by the end of 1902
struggled more or less successfully with the legacy imme-
diately left by the war. Disease had been got under control ;
the town. Thirty persons were drowned, many houses were destroyed,
and much property was damaged. A pubhc funeral of the victims took
place on January 19 ' (Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 2482). This flood, it need
hardly be said, was regarded by the Boers as ' a curse from God brought
by the British!' {The Times, August 25, 1906).
^ ' It is a great calamity for South Africa that, after more than two years
of devastating war, it should be visited by two years of agricultural loss
and unfruitfulness. . . . The drought will serve a useful end, however,
if it induces the South African Governments to prepare for the construc-
tion of water conservation works and irrigation on the scale which Mr.
Willcocks recommended two years ago ' {Natal Mercury, October 16,
1903).
THE DKOUGHT 173
the people had been returned to their homes; ground had
been ploughed, and a fair crop had been sown. Although
disquieting reports of the crop prospects had already been
received from certain districts, the outlook at the opening of
the new year was far from discouraging.
The stress of work did not diminish, for the Kepatriation
Department had by this time gained the full confidence of the
Boer population, and their readiness to avail themselves of
the advantages it offered developed in proportion as they
realized that their earlier suspicions were unfounded. A large
number, therefore, who had hitherto, for reasons best known
to themselves, stood aloof, now came forward and were pre-
pared to mortgage their lands and to sign promissory notes
for larger amounts than the district commissions, knowing the
value of the property and the financial position of the appli-
cants, were in all cases willing to advance. The chief demand
during this period, as during the previous one, was for live-
stock and transport of all kinds. ^ On the one hand, farmers
had by this time discovered that the prices asked by the
department for its animals, which had previously aroused no
small amount of criticism, were not exorbitant, that they were,
in fact, really lower than those obtaining in the open market.
On the other hand, the complaints originally raised on account
of poverty and disease were no longer applicable, because the
department's animals were now healthy and had enormously
improved in condition. Consequently a large number of cash
sales were effected, and the department could at this time
have disposed of nearly all its animals had not such sales
been practically confined to the agricultural classes, and had
it not been obliged to keep in hand a large reserve stock in
view of a possible drought.
^ E.g., 'Draught animals remain the great want of this district, and any-
thing that can pull a plough is readily bought ' (extract from Bethlehem
Report).
' The demand for sheep is still very great, and I would strongly recom-
mend that we bring in at least another 20,000 to supply the wants of
farmers who are unable, owing to lack of cash, to buy elsewhere ' (extract
from Hoopstad Report).
' It is urgently requested that another 10,000 sheep be sent. I asked
for 20,000 and have only received 7,000' (extract from Frankfort Report).
174 THE AFTERMATH OF WAR
At the same time, large purchases of mixed cattle and sheep
from the Cape Colony were made at headquarters by the
Secretary and Assistant Secretary, who were protected in such
purchases by local expert advice, and these were eagerly
bought up. The district commissions also made contracts
with dealers for the suppl}' of live-stock, subject to sanction
from headquarters and to approval on delivery, and in no
case was there any difficulty in recovering the cost price, or
did the animals distributed prove other than satisfactory.'^
Every facility was afforded to farmers who preferred to pur-
chase on their own account, and, as the strain on the railways
relaxed, it was possible to allot them a considerable number
of trucks in which to bring up their stock.
The repatriation remount and cattle depots offered an
infinite variety of animals, from a mule of seventeen hands,
who had seen service with the Royal Field Artillery, down to
the diminutive Burmese pony. There were various breeds of
horses : English, Basutos, Arabs, Walers, Canadians, Russians,
Argentines, and colonials. Of these, although tastes differed,
the Boer showed, on the whole, a preference for English mares,
and, being by nature practical, he gradually came to like the
unattractive but hardy and useful Russian cobs, which he had
at first despised. In the matter of cattle and sheep he was not
afforded an equal choice, and he probably did not desire it,
for it has been seen already that he did not take kindly to
imported stock. The department, in fact, found considerable
difficulty in getting rid of some imported Merino rams at any
price, and eventually had to what is commonly called give
them away, and even then the Boer thought we had designs
upon his flock.
The repatriation stores were still the main source of supply,
not only for the Boers, but for the whole population. By
^ E.g., 'A contract was entered into with Mr. , of this district, to
deliver 2,100 oxen at i'17 each. The oxen were bought in Cape Colony,
and forwarded to Ladybrand in lots of from 200 to 400. All these were
immediately issued to the farmers, with the exception of 660, which were
transferred to other districts, in accordance with instructions received from
the Assistant Secretary' (extract from Ladybrand Report).
THE DKOUGHT
175
this time they were fully stocked, and the farmer and settler
could find in them not only the essentials for a veldt farm,
but also a certain number of luxuries, if he was lucky enough
to have the wherewithal to purchase.
The following list will give some idea of what these stores
contained :
Transport.
Cape carts.
Waggons.
Wheelbarrows.
Spiilers.
Trolleys.
Scotch carts.
Water-carts.
Eations, etc.
Meat and vegetable
Lard.
Brand's Essence.
rations.
Arrowroot.
Soap, B.M.
Preserved meat.
Bovril.
Soap, carboUc.
Sifted meal.
Cornflour.
Bread.
Meal, etc.
Candles.
Benger's Food.
Boer meal.
Rice.
Calf 's-foot jelly.
Biscuits.
Biltong.
Chicken.
Mealie meal.
Coals.
Cheese.
Sugar.
Pepper.
Syrup.
Coffee.
Pea-soup.
Maizena.
Tea.
Salt, coarse.
Baking-powder.
Jam.
Lime-juice.
Sardines.
Salt, fine.
Oatmeal.
Chocolate.
Milk.
Mellin's Food.
Matches.
Bacon and bam.
S
Moir's Jelly.
EED, Grain, and Forag
Compressed vegetables
E.
Potatoes.
Chaff.
Eock-salt.
Mealies.
Kaffir corn.
Peas.
Crushed mealies.
Oats.
Beans.
Wheat.
Compressed forage.
Linseed.
Barley.
Hay.
Vegetable seeds.
Bran.
Oat-hay.
Pollard.
Lucerne.
Building Material.
Galvanized iron.
Lime.-
White lead.
Blockhouses.
Cement.
Timber, etc.
Solid deals.
Locks.
Doors.
Ceiling boards.
Glass.
Frames and fanlights.
Flooring boards.
Solder.
Windows.
Coffin boards (20 x 12).
Solder salts.
Ridging.
Pine boards.
Kraals.
Guttering.
Screws and washers.
Ladders.
Window-frames.
Nails.
Iron.
Hinges.
Zinc.
176
THE AFTERMATH OF WAR
Agricultural Implements.
Harrows (various) .
Ploughs (No. 75).
Ploughs (Orange D.F.)
Pumps (spray).
„ (No. m).
„ (S.A.).
„ (wing).
„ (Junior J.).
(Bulldog).
„ (iiorse-gear).
(A.R.G. 1).
Farm Requisites.
,, (small iron).
Linseed oil.
Kaffir hoes and handles.
Tanks (50 gallons).
Paraffin oil.
Shovels.
,, (various).
Boiled oil.
Spades.
Piping (4 X 16).
Lard oil.
Picks.
„ (4x15).
Jeyes' Fluid.
Rakes.
Galvanized piping, 1^.
Izal.
Meal-sieves.
») J) 4-
Dip.
Gates.
>) >> ?•
Salad oil.
Damscrapers.
)) )> 3.
Sulphur.
Weighing-machines.
Troughs (sheep).
Tobacco.
Branding-irons.
,, (horse).
Chloride of lime.
Epsom salts.
Waggon Equipment.
Oil of tar.
Axles.
Tyres.
Wheels (C.C).
Screw-jacks.
Spokes.
Spider shafts.
Whips and sticks.
Scotch cart poles.
Lubricating oils.
Disselbooms.
Washers.
Harness, etc.
Eiding-saddles.
Swingles.
Harness (single, in
Trek-chains.
Halters and head-
eluding wheeler,
Bridles.
collars.
leader, and C cart).
Yokes.
Reims.
Scotch cart harness.
Beins.
Neck-bars.
Harness Parts, etc.
Old harness.
Felt.
Twine.
Whip-thongs.
Canvas.
Copper wire.
Driving whips.
Leather (old).
Serge (CM.).
Rings (2 inches).
,, (colonial).
Flax thread.
Rivets.
„ (English).
Brown hemp.
Tacks.
]
Binding wire.
i'ERsoNAL Requirements
Brandy (XXX.).
Baths.
Tents (E.P.).
Port -wine.
Tents (bell).
Mattresses.
,, (marquee).
Tools.
Masons' mallets.
Draw-knives.
Cobblers' sets.
Scoops.
Brushes (W.W.).
Farriers' sets.
Chisels.
Vices.
Turnscrews.
Foot-rules.
Grindstones.
Wire-cutters.
Eeaping-hooks.
Anvils.
Planes.
Punches.
Clams (CM.).
Farriers' knives.
Trowels.
Squares.
Pincers.
Box-handles.
Levels.
Set-squares.
Paint-brushes.
Sheep-shears.
Benches.
Adzes.
Portable forges.
Stocks and dies.
Awls.
Carpenters' sets.
Files.
THE DEOUGHT
177
Instruments and Chemicals.
Clinical thermometers.
Scissors.
Syringes (cattle).
Brooms.
Horse-bi'ushes.
Dandy-brushes.
Farriers' rasps.
Horse-clippers.
Broom-handles.
Curry-combs.
Stable barrows.
Lanterns.
Trocar and cannula.
Scalpels.
Mallein tubes.
Stable Sundries, etc.
Horse and mule shoes.
,, ,, nails.
Horse-rugs.
Jhools.
Stoves.
Copal varnish.
Japanned boxes.
Leather bags.
Scales.
Hyd. chlor.
Chloride of potash.
Nitrate of potash.
Tables.
Paint.
Telegraph-poles.
Brushes (various).
Cupboards.
Jugs.
Washstands.
Chairs.
Basins (zinc).
But this list is really incomplete, for it does not include
stumps and cork legs which were in several cases issued, to
replace limbs lost during the war. For these special measure-
ments had, of course, to be taken, and they were not, there-
fore, generally stocked. It is perhaps unnecessary to point
out that in many more cases the special requirements of an
individual were met. Thus carpenters, blacksmiths, masons,
and other craftsmen were furnished with the special tools
which they severally required. In one case a carpenter was
literally put on his legs, or rather on two cork ones, and
enabled by the supply of tools to resume his trade.
The call for tenders for the supply of seed corn issued on
the declaration of peace met with no large response, because
at that time there was extremely little corn in the hands of
local merchants, and not one tender was received from the
western side of the colony. But in Basutoland large stocks
were held, and these were drawn upon very largely, and proved
a most convenient source of supply for the wheat districts.
The Basutos, however, are not clean sowers, and they use no
modern machinery in threshing their corn. Consequently,
Basutoland wheat is not only extremely dirty, but also mixed
with numerous and undesirable weeds. Although Basutoland
grain was sown when no other kind was available, orders
were placed at an early date elsewhere.
On the advice of local millers, an attempt was made to intro-
12
178 THE AFTEEMATH OF WAR
duce for the most part a large quantity of hard kinds of wheat.
The attempt was not altogether successful. The Boer proved
as conservative in the seed he chose to sow as in other spheres
of farming, and, unfortunately, the subsequent drought made
him more chary than ever of adopting new methods. He fre-
quently refused Red Winter No. 2, which the department im-
ported from America, and clung fondly to his old favourite,
AValla-Walla wheat. In the matter of mealies he was easier to
please, for experience had shown him the value of imported
grain. He readily accepted Monte Videan yellow maize,
though he continually called for white ' Cango ' and White
Bread mealies. The latter is a prolific yielder and ripens
more rapidly than any other mealie sown in the Orange River
Colony, but it was during the period under consideration
extremely scarce and proportionately dear. The oats issued
were mainly side oats, which could be grown as a summer
crop in almost every district and as a winter crop in the
conquered territory. The white oats taken over from the
army, although practically unknown before the war, were
largely sown in several districts, and turned out fairly well
under the circumstances. The greater portion of the oats
grown were not threshed out, but were cut when still green
and sold in bundles as oat-hay. The barley purchased was
that commonly known as colonial barley, and came from the
Cape Colony. Barley, again, was generally used to provide
green fodder for stock. Potatoes and beans were largely
issued and also vegetable seeds. Of potatoes there were
several varieties, but the department confined itself in the
main to the following : Early Rose, King of the Earlies, and
Up-to-date. Fifty thousand packets of vegetable seeds were
dealt with.
The repair of his homestead was, generally speaking, the
last thing to which the Boer directed his attention, and it was
not taken in hand until many months after his return — not
until, in fact, the tent which the family had brought from
the refugee camp began to leak or to give way. This delay
in restoration was due partly to habit and partly to circum-
THE DEOUGHT 179
stances. The Boer had been accustomed before the war to
live in a mud- walled hut, with which tent accommodation was
found to compare very favourably. The meanness of the
majority of Boer farm-houses was due to the fact that the
colony was almost entirely deficient in some of the most
necessary articles for the construction of dwelling-houses
other than mere hovels. Trees suitable for building purposes
are unknown in the Orange Eiver Colony. Wood-work,
corrugated iron, cement and lead — all had to be imported.
The Boers did not hasten to thoroughly repair their homes,,
although in many cases a portion of the house was roofed
over temporarily, or shift was made with outhouses or sheds.^
Had they wished to do so in the first instance, it would have
been impossible to satisfy their demands on account of the
congestion of the railways during the months immediately
succeeding the declaration of peace. With the exception of
the blockhouses taken over from the military authorities,
building material was not in the early days available. But
by the Boers it was not immediately required. They were
eminently practical, and they showed, consequently, a much
keener desire to expend what money they had on the acquisition
of stock, or to take their loans in cattle and sheep rather than
in building material, which it was found difficult to dispose of.
' The farmers did not generally,' it was stated in a Faure-
smith report, ' attempt to restore their dwellings, but con-
verted outbuildings into living rooms. The practice of
allowing families on leaving the concentration camps to take
away with them the tent they had occupied was of great
assistance, as such tents were m many instances the only
dwellings available for many months, and in a few instances
are still in use.'- * Wood, doors, and zinc,' wrote the Eesident
1 ' The owner had returned, and was dwelling in a tent against the
restoration of his homestead. A considerable herd of cattle grazed pro-
miscuously on the meadow, and the farmer, with philosophic calm, was
smoking his pipe in the shade. Apparently he was a man of substance
and above manual toil ; for though he had been back for some time, there
was no sign of getting to work on repairs, such as we saw in smaller
holdings' (' The African Colony ').
- Fauresmith Eeport, dated November 2, 1903.
12—2
180 THE AFTERMATH OF WAR
Magistrate at Senekal, ' came out from Winburg, and some
farmers partially rebuilt their houses, but the majority wisely
preferred to save their money to obtain stock.' ' All the
homesteads still require repairs. The owners and occupiers
have in part repaired some, but in many instances the
farmers are still living in tents, and in the vast majority of
cases the homesteads have not been rebuilt.'^
Drought and crop failure did not tend to improve the Boers'
financial position, and the Repatriation Department, finding
building material rather a drag on the market, did not purchase
wood and iron to the extent originally anticipated. Under an
arrangement made by the Civil Administration at the close of
the war to take over all blockhouses in the Transvaal and
Orange River Colony from the military, the Orange River Colony
Repatriation Department purchased 1,500 blockhouses at the
price of £10 each. It was found subsequently that there were
over 1,800 in the colony, which reduced the purchase price to
a little more than £8 apiece. The issuing price was, however,
upon instructions from the Lieutenant-Governor, reduced to
i;5 ; but even at this reduced figure the supply was greater
than the demand, and at the close of the department a con-
siderable number remained unsold, or else were disposed of
for any offer. In addition to the blockhouses, the department
expended originally about ^40,000 on imported building
material ; but out of £55,000 worth purchased, which in-
cluded the blockhouses, buyers were only found for the
purchase of wood and iron to the value of about ^30,000.
Ill-fortune, however, still dogged every effort of the depart-
ment to restore the country districts to their pre-war state.
' During the war,' wrote Lord Milner in a despatch dated
March 14, 1903, ' the seasons on the whole were good ; but
this year, as bad luck would have it, there is over large tracts
of both colonies, though not absolutely everywhere, a very
exceptional drought. After all the strenuous efforts, alike of
Government and people, to get seed into the ground, there is,
I fear, a great probability, amounting in some districts to an
^ Jacobsdal Eeport for March, 1903.
THE DROUGHT 181
absolute certainty, that the crops will not ripen. At the
present moment the number of people being supplied with
food by the Government is comparatively small, but we
have to face the contingency of seeing that number increase
to a considerale extent. For this reason the Governments of
both the Transvaal and the Orange Eiver Colony are keeping
a very large number of transport animals and vehicles in
hand. The expense is heavy, but we have no option, as, in
the absence of such provision, the people in many districts
might be exposed to actual famine during 1903. This must,
of course, at all hazards be guarded against, and it has been
guarded against.'^
In tracing the course of the drought, which varied in the
different districts, I shall leave the district commissions to
speak for themselves. The extracts quoted are taken from
the reports furnished monthly, on which the general report on
the agricultural conditions of the colony and the circumstances
of the farming population was based. It will be noticed that
the monotony of the drought was now and again temporarily
broken by hailstorms and heavy showers, and that it was
accompanied by locusts, lice, caterpillars, bunt, and smut.'^
As early as December, 1902, it was evident in many districts
that the season would not be a good one. ' It is as yet too
soon,' said the Bethlelem Eeport for that month, ' to give any
estimate of the crops to be reaped. Wheat is scarce ; oats,
1 Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 1551, p. 5. ' During the war the seasons
were particularly good. The peace was succeeded by an exceptional
drought, which worked havoc on the veldt. In many districts there was
an almost complete failure of the mealie crop sown under such difficulties.
In view of possible famine, therefore, the Government has had no choice
during 1903 but, at the cost of heavy expense, to keep supplies and vehicles
on hand, so as to guard against any such contingency ' {Sheffield Daily
Telegraph, January 1, 1904).
- ' A hailstorm in South Africa is an experience. Hailstones out there
have been known as big as pigeon's eggs, and I myself saw some sheets
of corrugated iron rooiing through which hailstones had crashed as
through paper' (' A Subaltern's Letters to his Wife,' p. 21).
' The ant ma3^ modify the form of the veldt, but the locust can do more
than that : it changes the colour of the ground and darkens the face of the
sky. Desolation and hunger attend its steps, and man and beast alike
quail at the sight of that myriad host' {ibid., p. 12).
182 THE AFTEEMATH OF WAR
mealies, and potatoes are young. But, instead of good rain
at decent intervals this season is remarkable for heavy rain,
succeeded by dry weather, which continues until the crops are
nearly dead, when another downpour comes.' ' Large swarms
of locusts,' wrote the Eesident Magistrate at Hoopstad, ' have
appeared within the last few days, and it is to be feared that
they will entirely destroy the crops in this district.' In the
Jacobsdal district the situation was already acute : ' Owing to
the continued drought the majority of the crops in this district
are a failure. Several farmers have reported that their crops
are utterly destroyed and their dams exhausted. Consequently,
a large proportion of these families will have to be supported
for a longer period than was anticipated.' From Smithfield :
' The drought still continues to be general throughout the
district ; locusts in large swarms are doing considerable damage
to the growing crops.' ' Ploughing is still being carried on,'
wrote the Resident Magistrate at Winburg, 'but, unfortunately,
the greater portion of the crops put in early has utterly failed
owing to the drought. We cannot hope to close our issue
stores as soon as I expected, as the harvest does not promise
favourably.' From Wepener : * The crops which are now
maturing have suffered considerably, both from the drought
and from locusts.'
The reports for January, 1903, tell much the same tale. ' A
certain amount of wheat,' wrote the Bethlehem Commission,
' has been reaped, and mealies have now become available, so
that it may be expected that the quantities of food-stuffs to be
issued will decrease. The drought still continues, however, and
it is now certain that this district will not be able to support
itself from the crops raised this season. Oxen to plough with
and sheep for meat are the two great requirements.' The
Ficksburg Commission ' much regrets that during the month
the drought has continued very severe, and that the mealie
crops have in consequence suffered very considerably. As
practically all the people belonging to this district have now
returned to their homes, we think it advisable to keep three
waggons only for repatriation work, and to hand the balance
THE DEOUGHT 183
of the animals over to the poorer farmers for ploughing
purposes.' * The drought is becoming serious,' wrote the
Resident Magistrate at Harrismith. ' Unless we have rain at
an early date, the prospects of reaping any harvest will be
small, and in any case no great yield can be expected.' In
Rouxville farmers were ' being forced to seek grazing else-
where.' In Edenburg ' the farmers could not plough owing
to the drought.' ' No rain has fallen during the past month,'
reported the chairman of the Smithfield Commission, ' and all
the crops, except in cases where irrigation is possible, are a
failure. Water for stock is getting scarce, and the springs
are beginning to weaken.' Most districts in turn thought
they had been harder hit than others. ' This district,' wrote
the Resident Magistrate at Winburg, ' seems to have suffered
more severely than most through the unfavourable season we
have experienced. On farms on which good ploughing had