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Military History – South Africa – Europe – England 19th Century
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.Page 323
in the rations.*Some people have money, and may add to the above by purchasing certain things
at some little retail shops allowed in the Camp, which charge exorbitant prices,†for instance, 6d. for
a reel of cotton. But they are, naturally, terribly afraid of parting with their money, feeling it is all they
will have to begin life on again, for every one’s income is stopped, nothing is coming in. It is, indeed,
a dreary prospect. Some few of those who had cash in hand buried it out on their farms for safety, and
now, of course, cannot reach it. All say, if released, they would make a living somehow, and shelter
beneath the ruined home would be as good as these often rotten tents. It is hard enough that, but
countless children’s lives would be saved thereby.
We have much typhoid, and are dreading an outbreak, so I am directing my energies to getting the
water of the Modder River boiled. As well swallow typhoid germs whole as drink that water — so
say doctors. Yet they cannot boil it all, for—first, fuel is very scarce ; that which is supplied weekly
would not cook a meal a day, and they have to search the already bare kopjes for a supply. There is
hardly a bit to be had. Second, they have no extra utensil to hold the water when boiled. I propose,
therefore, to give each tent another pail or crock, and get a proclamation issued that all drinking water
must be boiled. It will cost nearly £50 to do this, even if utensils are procurable.
In spite of small water supply, and it is very spare, all the tents I have been in are exquisitely
neat and clean, except two, and they were ordinary, and such limitations !
January 31st.
I suggested a big railway boiler*to boil every drop of water before it is served out. This would
economise fuel, and be cheaper in the long run, besides ensuring the end desired, for many could not
be trusted to boil their own. Next we want forage for the cows. Fifty have been secured, but they only
get four buckets of milk out of the poor starved things.†What is needed is a wash-house with water
laid on from the town, but I see no chance of it. Some people in town still assert that the Camp is a
haven of bliss. Well, there are eyes and no eyes. I was at the camp to-day, and just in one little corner
this is the sort of thing I found. The nurse, underfed and overworked, just sinking on to her bed, hardly
able to hold herself up, after coping with some thirty typhoid and other patients, with only the
untrained help of two Boer girls—cooking as well as nursing to do herself.
Next, I was called to see a woman panting in the heat, just sickening for her confinement.
Fortunately, I had a night-dress in my bundle to give her, and two tiny baby gowns.
Next tent, a six months’ baby gasping its life out on its mother’s knee. The doctor had given it
powders in the morning, but it had taken nothing since. Two or three others drooping and sick in that
tent.
Next, child recovering from measles, sent back from hospital before it could walk, stretched on
the ground, white and wan ; three or four others lying about.
Next, a girl of twenty-one lay dying on a stretcher. The father, a big, gentle Boer, kneeling beside
her ; while, next tent, his wife was watching a child of six, also dying, and one of about five drooping.
Already this couple had lost three children in the hospital. and so would not let these go, though I
begged hard to take them out of the hot tent. “ We must watch these ourselves,” he said. I sent ——to
find brandy, and got some down the girl’s throat, but for the most part you must stand and look on,
helpless to do anything, because there is nothing to do anything with.
Then a man came up and said : “ Sister ” (they call be “ Sister,” or “ Di Meisie van England ”),
“ come and see my child, sick for nearly three months.” It was a dear little chap of four, and nothing
left of him but his great brown eyes and white teeth, from which the lips were drawn back, too thin to
close. His body was emaciated. The little fellow had craved for fresh milk ; but, of course, there had
been none till these last two days, and now the fifty cows only give four buckets, so you can imagine
what feed there is for them. I sent —— for some of this, and made him lay the child outside on a
pillow to get the breeze that comes up at sunset. I can’t describe what it is to see these children lying
about in a state of collapse. It’s just exactly like faded flowers thrown away. And one has to stand
and look on at such misery, and be able to do almost nothing.
*
These numbers are now nearly doubled.
*
Three months later—Mrs. P. has been rejoined to all her children, except two.
*
Of course the numbers are now largely increased. over 20,000 in Orange River Colony alone ;
25,000 in Transvaal camps, besides the Colony and Natal.
*
With much persuasion, and weeks after requisitioning, soap is now given in occasionally in very
minute quantities—certainly not enough for clothes and personal washing.
†
In some camps steps are now taken to prevent exorbitant charges in these shops in certain artioles.
*
None could be had, so the Government built furnaces and tankms. When the camp doubled this would
not supply sufficient, so I left money to put up another.
†
Forage was refused, being too precious. After the rains the milk supply was better.
NORVALS PONT AND ALIWAL NORTH.
February 10th.
I should like now to begin an account of Norvals Pont Camp. It has been an exciting week,
because I had pitched on the same days as De Wet had done for careering up and down this line. At
the best of times travelling is hard enough in this hot, slow, thirsty land ; but add to heat military
control of everything, absence, or partial disappearance, of ordinary officials ; permits and passes of
endless kinds, the danger of travelling at night, the line occasionally torn up or a train burnt, and the
route blocked by countless strings of troop trains and supply trains, all having to pass each other at
sidings, as the line is single, and you have some idea of the patience required. One very hot day our
eyes were refreshed by continued mirages, pre-
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