ved daily from the north, and that so long as communications
were kept open they continued to do so.

At first the refugees inundated the lodging-houses in Cape Town, but these
soon being full to overflowing, some other means had to be devised to
house and feed them. Committees were formed, with whom the Government
officials in the Colony worked with great zeal and considerable success
toward alleviating the misery with which they found themselves confronted
in such an unexpected manner. The Municipal Council, the various religious
communities, the Medical men--one and all applied themselves to relief
measures, even though they could not comprehend the reason of the blind
rush to the Cape. Nor, in the main, could the refugees explain more
lucidly than the one phrase which could, be heard on all sides, no matter
what might have been the social position: "We had to go away because we
did not feel safe on the Rand." In many cases it would have been far
nearer to the truth to say that they had to go because they could no
longer lead the happy-go-lucky existence they had been used to.

The most to be pitied among these people were most certainly the Polish
Jews, who originally had been expelled from Russia, and had come to seek
their fortunes at Johannesburg. They had absolutely no one to whom they
could apply, and, what was sadder still, no claim on anyone; on the
English Government least of all. One could see them huddling together on
the platform of Cape Town railway station, surrounded by bundles of rags
which constituted the whole of their earthly belongings, not knowing at
all what to do, or where to go to. Of course they were looked after,
because English charity has never stopped before differences of race and
creed, but still it was impossible to deny that their constantly
increasing number added considerably to the difficulties of the situation.

A Jewish Committee headed by the Chief Rabbi of Cape Town, the Rev. Dr.
Bender, worked indefatigably toward the relief of these unfortunate
creatures, and did wonders. A considerable number were sent to Europe, but
a good many elected to remain where they were, and had to be provided for
in some way till work could be found for them, which would at least allow
them to exist without being entirely dependent on public charity. Among
the aliens who showed a desire to remain in South Africa were many in
possession of resources of their own; but they carefully concealed the
fa