THE BOERS RESERVE OF LIVE STOCK.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 8 January 1901, Page 4

THE BOERS RESERVE OF LIVE STOCK.

Some few years before the outbreak of war, the Transvaal, like other parts of South Africa, was overrun by rinderpest, which killed off large herds of cattle, and proba.bly one-third of the entiro stock; but an a practical setoff to this (writes the Capetown correspondent of the Christchurch Press), it must be remembered that in the early stages of the war, the

enemy raided British territory to some purpose, abd almost depleted the colony of Natal of live stock. AH that loot, in addition to their own stock, save that required for passing need?, has been driven into the ner-bem recesses of the Ti'ansvaal, where is now roam 3 in security. Cattle and sHeep will thrive in these northern regions, and as they possess ample herds of these there will be no lack of fresh meat for the Boer commissariat for some time to come. But in the Free State tho prospect is not so cheerful for tho guerilla bands. There is no back country there to drive stock to, although there are still many herds of sheep, cattle, and horses,_ but for a large part ownerless and roaming about at their sweet will over the wide domain. These herds, indeed, can always fall into the hands of our troops, who are constantly patrolling the country, and it would seem that De Wet and his roving bands must shortly be making tracks for the Tr;insv>\al by sheer stress of fortune, for although secret stores may abound in tho country, yet his means of livelihood becomes daily more precarious by reason of his own uncertain wanderings from pillar to post.