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Military History – South Africa – Europe – England 19th Century
.Article – Online Historic Information | Military
.Page 329
March 16.
To-day I bought and presented some clothes, and combs, and soap, and towels to the women
who tried to run away. They are, of course, in disgrace, and I felt so sorry for them that we had long
talks, and I was sure the best thing was to make them a little happier in camp.
In each case they are mothers, separated from, and desperately anxious about, their children. I
told them, in their place, I should also have tried to escape, though I am quite sure I should have
failed, and I don’t think it would be at all wise, and I counselled them not to try again. I fancy they
were a bit softened, and soothed, and won’t try to escape any more, but wait and try to get news of
their children. It struck me the children may be in ——’s last sweepings, now at Warrenton, and I
shall have to go up there.
To-day I have met in committee the plucky little body of women who have tried to meet and
succour the distress in the camp and out of it ; they work on the same lines as we do, non-sectarian
and non-political. Of course they are mainly people of quite small means, for all the wealthy people
here are De Beers, in some shape or form. It is wonderful what they have done with their very limited
means.
MAFEKING,
April 9.
I arrived here this afternoon, after a long and singularly tedious journey. I felt obliged to come,
having learnt there were about 890 women in this camp, besides those at Warrenton, en route. I felt
uneasy, for I could learn no details at all about the people here, except that the camp was four miles
out of town. At Warrenton there were only about 370 pushed into the church and school, as tents are
well high unobtainable, but now, only yesterday, many hundreds more have been brought in there—in
fact, the town of Hcopstadt. I mean to visit Warrenton on my way back from if all is well. I do grudge
the time spent on the mere journeying—it makes a large hole in my few remaining weeks.
April 10.
To-day I have been out in the camp all day. I had to take a Cape cart and drive out, for it is full
six miles—a lonely, lonely spot. Mafeking itself feels like the very end of the world, and the camp
seems like driving six miles into space. There are 800 or 900 people, and it is the oldest of all the
camps I have visited. In fact, nearly a year old. They were very glad to see me. The hospital nurse
said it had put new life and courage into her. She was feeling so downhearted about it all. I found
some very nice people whose relations I had made friends with in Bloemfontein camp and also in
Kimberley. It is quite interesting sorting out the people and telling them where their relations are. I am
at present hunting for the mother of two little boys, aged about six and seven, who were swept away
by a different convoy. The Mafeking camp folk were very surprised to hear that English women cared
a rap about them or their suffering. It has done them a lot of good to hear that real sympathy is felt for
them at home, and so I am glad I fought my way here, if it is only for that reason. The camp was
specially interesting to me as being the first I have seen under Transvaal rule. For rations of food and
fuel it is far the best I have seen, but, as usual, no soap. The superintendent is a Scotchman, thoroughly
capable and suitable, but, alas ! likely to be removed ere long. The rations are better than in any other
camp accidentally, too long a story to dilate upon in this short letter. They are badly off in blankets
(many have none), also soap and candles and clothes, and in having no one to visit or care for them
from the outside. For miles round no habitation can be seen, and Mafeking folk are too bitter to do
anything to help them.
April 11.
To-day I took out large bundles of stuff as suitable as Mafeking could supply—the choice is not
large. I formed a clothing committee of seven women, and in the afternoon we met, and I showed them
how to organize their work for the camp. They were very pleased, and are going to meet every
Thursday, besides dividing the camp into sections, and making a tent to tent visitation. All the seven
women are themselves in need of clothes—they have all had their houses burnt, one by Kaffirs, and
the rest by English troops.
One old lady I saw was very interesting, a real character. She was very broken-hearted, more so
than any I have met. She harangued me on the subject of her feelings and experiences the best part of
an hour in really eloquent Dutch and much solemnity. She described with the extraordinary
unselfconsciousness which characterises them all the whole history of the General’s visit and actions,
and how she had thrown herself flat on the stoep and implored him to trample on her and kill her. And
she showed me the clothes she had brought, and there was nothing for herself but a white bundle
containing her “ dood kleere ”—viz., her dead clothes. I fancy she thought that would be all she
would need in camp. It. was rather a Job-like scene. She sat in her bare, baking tent, a circle of
friends round her, an intensely religious woman, trying to understand God’s dealings with her and her
people in letting everything be taken, and she ended at last with a solemn thanksgiving to “ onse Heer
” that the English people cared enough even to send someone just to look upon their misery.
Altogether the old woman was a striking figure, and very pathetic.
KIMBERLEY,
April 13.
I have just returned. At Warrenton I found only about 150 people left, the rest were being sent
on. At the station were two trainloads full of them, quite half in open coal-trucks, all
home
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