Primitive Hottentots

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 152, 30 June 1939, Page 2

Primitive Hottentots

LIFE IN “NEVER-NEVER” LAND The life of the Hottentots in the torrid liichtersveld, the “never-never” land of the Orange River, is described by a correspondent of the Johannesburg Star. Stark, grim, red-coloured mountains rise from the banks of the river, bare of vegetation except the cactus plant known as the noorsdoorn. These mountains nearly all have a covering of smooth slabs of stone, thrown there by ancient volcanoes. These rocks throw off a glare in the daytime that is painful to tho sight when near, and from a distance one could forgive a stranger for thinking they ure sheets of mica. Due to two prevailing winds, downstream in the morning and up of a night, both cool and sometimes bitterly cold, driving a mass of sand before it, the immediate vicinity of the river is devoid of grazeable vegetation, only a fringe of trees bordering the river on both banks. Even with their nearness to the water these trees are stunted. The seasonal fall of leaves from these trees provide feeding of a sort for tho stock of those nomads who have to live along the river through choice or necessity; but changes of grazing are necessary for the sake of the health of the animals. The nearest grazing, consisting of a scrub thorn, a variety of salt bush, and iceplants, is from 8 to 12 miles from the banks ot the river. Imagine tho heat of those kloofs and gorges. One hundred and ten degree* to 120 degrees is common, and higher is experienced every year. The days, from 9 o’clock in the morning till 5 o’clock in the afternoon, are a breathing agony for a white person. Vegetables of the finer varieties, even if liberally watered, nearly always fail. That was my experience on the river below Vioolsdrift during a lengthy sojourn there. The Richtersveld Hottentots live a semi-nomadic life, subsisting principally on goat’s milk and wild roots, wHh a small addition of civilised foods obtained through the barter of skins. When visiting the river they profit by the flotsam of produce flood-borne from the interior. We must remember that the family jealously guard their flocks, consisting entirely or nearly so of boer-goats. The loss of one she-goat means a diminution of their food supply.