Of course the people living in the farms have no say in these
matters, and are quite powerless to interfere with the plans of the
fighting Boers. Anyway we find that one reason or other generally covers
pretty nearly every farm we come to, and so to save trouble we burn the
lot without inquiry; unless, indeed, which sometimes happens, some names
are given in before marching in the morning of farms to be spared.
The men belonging to the farm are always away and only the women left.
Of these there are often three or four generations; grandmother, mother,
and family of girls. The boys over thirteen or fourteen are usually
fighting with their papas. The people are disconcertingly like English,
especially the girls and children--fair and big and healthy looking.
These folk we invite out on to the veldt or into the little garden in
front, where they huddle together in their cotton frocks and big cotton
sun-bonnets, while our men set fire to the house. Sometimes they entreat
that it may be spared, and once or twice in an agony of rage they have
invoked curses on our heads. But this is quite the exception. As a rule
they make no sign, and simply look on and say nothing. One young woman
in a farm yesterday, which I think she had not started life long in,
went into a fit of hysterics when she saw the flames breaking out, and
finally fainted away.
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