Woman's Endurance.
BY A.D.L., B.A., CHAPLAIN IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMP, BETHULIE,
O.R.C., 1901.
CAPE TOWN: PRINTED BY S.A. NEWS CO., LTD., 1904.
To THE REV. H.C.J. BECKER, OF BETHULIE, O.R.C.
Table of Contents
[Transcriber's note: The original did not contain a table of contents.It is added here for the reader's convenience.]
PREFACE.
DEAR READER,—
A perusal of the following "Introduction" by the Author, and of histrue and touching "Diary," will assuredly carry the conviction intoyour own soul, if you still require conviction, that our SouthAfrican women were the heroines of the late deplorable war.
May this pathetic relation bring us all nearer to one another insympathy and love; and serve to awaken in every woman's breast thedesire to emulate and perpetuate the pure faith and noble devotionwhich these Sisters of ours have handed down to us and to allposterity as their priceless legacy.
In undertaking the responsibility for the publication of this"Diary," I may simply state that the proceeds will be given towardsthe support of the Orphanage at Bethulie.
Yours, etc.,
D. DE VILLIERS,
Secretary, Boer Relief Committee.
CAPE TOWN.
INTRODUCTION.
This Journal was written in the Bethulie Concentration Camp just twoyears ago.
A few days after my return from Europe (whither I had gone for sixmonths on the completion of a Theological course at Stellenbosch), atelegram came from the Deputy Administrator of the Orange RiverColony, through the Rev. Wm. Robertson, inviting me to work asChaplain in one of the Concentration Camps.
The Rev. Mr. Pienaar, who had received a similar invitation, and Itherefore journeyed down to Bloemfontein a few days later. Wereceived great courtesy at the hands of Sir Hamilton Gould-Adams, theDeputy Administrator, and every kindness from Mr. Robertson.
In a few days it was finally decided that Mr. Pienaar should go toIrene, in the Transvaal, and I to the Concentration Camp at Bethulie.Thither I forthwith travelled, arriving at my destination on the 21stAugust.
The thought suggested itself the very first day that I might desire,in after years, to recall my experiences in Camp, and so I decided tokeep a diary. This thought, and this alone, prompted me in thematter. Of an evening, therefore, just before retiring, I noted downthe doings of the day, consulting at such times always my pocketnote-book.
What was written was done hurriedly, on the impulse of the moment—infact, simply scribbled down without, of course, any regard to style,language, or form. Stress of circumstances must be held responsiblefor the many undignified expressions in which the Diary abounds. Itshould not be forgotten, moreover, that I was usually tired out afterthe day's work, when these entries were made.
For almost a year the Diary lay in my desk before I could summoncourage to re-read it. After it had been hidden again for anotheryear, I rashly promised