colours were combined; and
they sang with every possible variety of discordancy Transvaal hymns,
especially the Transvaal national anthem. But unless these gentle
ladies can cook and stitch vastly better than they seemed able to
sing, their husbands and brothers are much to be pitied.

Their patriotism was so pronounced and aggressive that they literally
spat at the soldiers, and assured them that no money of theirs would
ever suffice to purchase the paltriest flag they carried. The seeds of
ill-will and hate for all things British had been planted in the mind
and heart of almost every Boer child long before the war began, but
those seeds ripened rapidly, and the reaping bids fair to be
prolonged.

[Sidenote: _A Dutch Deacon's Testimony._]

Before this weary conflict came to a close, nearly every Boer family
was gathered in from the perils and privations of the war-wasted
veldt; and so, while nearly 30,000 burghers were detained as prisoners
of war at various points across the sea, their wives and children, to
the number of over 100,000, were tenderly cared for in English laagers
all along the line of rails or close to conveniently situated towns.
Slanderous statements have been made as to the treatment meted out to
these unfortunates, for which my visits revealed no warrant; but of
more value is the testimony of one of their own church officials, who
carefully inspected the women's refuge camp at Port Elizabeth, and
reported the result to the local Intelligence Department. This deacon
of the Dutch Reformed Church, Mr T. J. Ferreira, says:--

I came down here on hearing of the reports at Steytlerville of
the bad treatment the women exiles are receiving from the
military. I was determined to find out the truth, and publish
same in the Dutch and English papers. I stayed in the camp all
day, and dined with the exiles. The food was excellent--I had
roast lamb, soup, potatoes, bread, coffee, and biscuits. All was
well cooked and perfectly satisfactory; the soup and meat were
especially well cooked. The women and children are happy, have no
complaints, and are quite content to stay where they are until
they can return to their homes. I shall return to Steytlerville
and let everybody know how humane the treatment is. The statement
that the women were ragged and barefooted and had to bathe within
sight of the military is a shameful falsehood.

[Sidenote: _A