woman was seen with a cart in which two plough wheels were placed.  It looked strange, but answered the purpose well enough.  When salt was not to be had for love or money, wells were dug in the pans and salt water was found, from which, by a process of evaporation, salt was obtained.  In this manner one problem after the other was solved.  As to their clothes, overcoats were made of sheep-skins, and some burghers wore complete suits made of leather.  The worn-out clothes were patched with soft leather and then they were said to be “armoured.”  Besides this there was the “shaking out” process, as it was called by the burghers.  The Boers thought that they were quite justified in exchanging clothes with Tommy Atkins whenever he was captured; for the English had destroyed and burnt theirs as often as they could.  As we had no means of import, and as the enemy had burnt our clothes, who shall condemn our action, however humiliating it might have been to the soldier or costly to the British Government to provide outfits for both parties?  Necessity knows no laws.  In the same way the burghers were provided with rifles, ammunition, horses, saddles, bridles and other necessaries by the British.  When their ammunition first ran short, many were not a little concerned about it, and thought that that would ultimately compel them to surrender.  But the English were kind enough to supply them, so that after each fight, as a rule, they had enough to commence another with.  Towards the latter part of the war the English were fought and often beaten with their own arms.  So, as far as that was concerned, the Republics could have prolonged the war indefinitely, or at least as long as they were being supplied by the British Government.  Does this often happen in the history of wars—­a foe lashed by its own weapons?

In his social intercourse the Boer is kind-hearted, tender and hospitable.  He loves to be kind—­to be hard and cruel is contrary to his nature.  Owing to his soft and gentle disposition he sometimes brought disaster and ruin upon himself during the war.  Traitors and renegades were mercifully spared, and these notorious beings were instrumental in bringing about his defeat.  In times of peace kind-heartedness no doubt is a virtue of intrinsic worth; in times of war it cannot always be exercised.

In outward appearance the Boer may be, and sometimes is, somewhat stern and uncompromising; but those who have gained his confidence and known him best have invariably discovered behind and at the bottom of this seemingly forbidding exterior a softness of disposition and a tenderness of heart which brooks no rivalry.  Men who have taken the Boer character second-hand, or have not taken the trouble to enter into his feelings or obtain his friendship, have often been misled by his quiet phlegmatic demeanour, which at times verges on stolidity.  They have described him as being sour, morose and unkind.  To such he appeared a sort of obstreperous, cantankerous being, who simply delights to quarrel with every man he meets—­especially if an Englishman came in his way.  Needless to say he is nothing of the sort.