at Aliwal North had ordered L150 worth of clothing,
and had distributed it; she undertook to forward some
of it. At Springfontein ’the commandant
was a kind man, and willing to help both the people
and me as far as possible.’ Other similar
quotations might be made. Miss Hobhouse acknowledges
that the Government recognise that they are responsible
for providing clothes, and she appears rather to deprecate
the making and sending of further supplies from England.
I will quote her exact words on this point. The
italics are mine. ’The demand for clothing
is so huge that it is hopeless to think that the private
charity of England and Colonial working parties combined
can effectually cope with it. The Government recognise
that they must provide necessary clothes, and
I think we all agree that, having brought these people
into this position, it is their duty to do so. It
is, of course, a question for English folk to decide
how long they like to go on making and sending clothes.
There is no doubt they are immensely appreciated; besides,
they are mostly made up, which the Government clothing
won’t be.’ Miss Hobhouse says that
many of the women in the Camp at Aliwal North had brought
their sewing machines. If they were set to work
to make clothes it might serve a double purpose of
giving them occupation and the power of earning a little
money, and it would also ensure the clothes being made
sufficiently large. Miss Hobhouse says people
in England have very incorrect notions of the magnificent
proportions of the Boer women. Blouses which were
sent from England intended for women could only be
worn by girls of twelve and fourteen; they were much
too small for the well-developed Boer maiden, who
is really a fine creature. Could a woman’s
out-out size be procured? It must be remembered
that when Miss Hobhouse saw the Camps for the first
time it was in January, the hottest month in the South
African year; the difficulty of getting supplies along
a single line of rail, often broken by the enemy,
was very great. The worst of the Camps she saw
was at Bloemfontein, and the worst features of this
worst Camp were:
“1. Water supply was bad.
“2. Fuel was very scarce.
“3. Milk was very scarce.
“4. Soap was not to be had.
“5. Insufficient supply of trained nurses.
“6. Insufficient supply of civilian doctors.
“7. No ministers of religion.
“8. No schools for children.
“9. Exorbitant prices were demanded in the shops.
“10. Parents had been separated from their children.