more than
mere sentiment has been proved conclusively by the war, when the whole
male population rose in arms against the invading foe. Touching, indeed,
it was to behold boys of twelve and grey-headed men of seventy and
eighty years shouldering their rifles and all fighting for one great
ideal. When their homes were burned, families removed, and goods taken
or destroyed, they exclaimed: "Let the British do whatever they please,
let them strip us of everything we hold dear, so long as we are only a
_free_ people. We do not mind being poor; we are prepared, when the war
is over, to live in tents as our forefathers did; but we do not want to
swear allegiance to the despoilers of our country. British subjects!
_No, never_."

And the Boer women, who are the very embodiment of liberty itself, were
they less enthusiastic and determined to be free than their husbands and
sons? Verily not. Words fail us when we want to express our admiration
for these heroines who played so prominent a part in the South African
Campaign, and upon whom the brunt of the war fell. Alas! that this
should have been the case.

In years gone by the wives and daughters of the early pioneers stood by
the side of their husbands and fathers, casting bullets and loading
their flint-lock guns, as the latter bravely repelled the fierce
onslaught of Zulus, Matabeles, and other savage hordes. Many of them
were ruthlessly murdered by these savage tribes. No Africander will ever
forget names such as Weenen (Place of Weeping), Blood Rivier (Blood
River), Vechtkop and Blauwkrants--places where Boer women had
contributed their share of blood, that their children might be free.
Those days were sad and dark; but there were sadder and darker times in
store for the descendants of these pioneer women.

During the war the Republican women proved themselves no less formidable
and brave than in those early days. When their husbands and sons were
called to the front they took upon themselves the entire management of
the farms. So well did they acquit themselves of such an onerous task
that, as long as they were left unmolested, there was no lack of
provisions for man or beast, always enough, and to spare. True, it cost
them much labour and fatigue, for some of them had to tend the flocks,
while others had to plough the fields and reap the crops in the
scorching rays of a December or January sun. They did it willingly and
gladly, so that the men might be free to engage i