Transcribed from South Africa Magazine, 19 April 1902

BOER PRISONERS AT BERMUDA

OUR FORMER ENEMIES IN CLOVER

The Boer prisoners of war now at Bermuda number about 4300, and are occupying seven islands in all—Darrell’s, Burtt’s, Tucker’s, Morgan’s, Hawkins’, Port’s, and Zeta, the last two being used as hospital islands. In addition to these islands, the Government has just concluded an arrangement for the lease of Hinson’s Island for a period of three years. For the present this place, which is one of the finest of the islands of the Great Sound, will be held in reserve. The prisoners are well fed, are supplied with all the clothing that they require, and are in perfect health. No more healthy station, says Reuter’s correspondent, could have been found in the British Empire for the temporary confinement of these men. The first contingent arrived on June 28, 1901. Since that date the admissions to hospital have been 1000, the deaths have been 13—mostly due to constitutional ailments from which the patients had been suffering before their arrival at Bermuda. Of the 1000 patients admitted to hospital nearly all were men who had become debilitated through exposure and suffering while on active service, and are now suffering the consequent effects. The prisoners fare as the troops fare, and they appear to have more clothing than they can use, having recently returned to the Ordnance Store Department 500 suits of clothing because they had no use for them. There are now due from London, says the correspondent, 5000 suits of clothing, which, with what has already been imported, will make 12,000 suits the Government has supplied for the prisoners since last July, and each suit costs the Government 27s. 6d.; underclothing, boots, overcoats, &c., are an additional expense.

Writing later, the correspondent says: “In the prison camps of Bermuda, as in the prison camp at St. Helena and in the concentration camps of South Africa, there are many men who are keenly anxious for the termination of the war. Realising that the Boers have been hopelessly beaten in fair fight, that the story of foreign intervention with which they have been beguiled is a myth, that the independence of the former Boer Republics is a thing of the past, a large number of the prisoners of war have taken the oath of allegiance; others among the Boer prisoners make application, from time to time, to be admitted to British citizenship. Such an application and the consequent administration of the oath of allegiance to several prisoners of war now confined on Hawkins’ Island, recently gave rise to a serious incident. The prisoners of war confined on Hawkins’ are chiefly irreconcilables, and some of these are very bitter against the British. A week ago, on learning that several of their fellow-prisoners of more moderate views had taken the oath of allegiance, a party of the irreconcilables attacked the former and attempted to drown them in the Great Sound. The attempt was frustrated by the military guard, and the perpetrators of the attempt have been punished. They are now undergoing a period of discipline in the military prison at St. George’s.”

The correspondent further announces the arrival of the transport Harlech Castle from England with the 4^th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment on board. The regiment is now quartered on Tucker’s, Morgan’s, and Burtt’s Islands—the headquarters being at Tucker’s. A redistribution of the prisoners-of-war in the different camps has, he says, now been carried out—the prisoners-of-war who have taken the oath of allegiance being placed in one camp, those who are willing to take the oath of neutrality in a second, and the irreconcilables and the hostile foreigners in a third. The Peace Camp, so called, has been established at Tucker’s Island. Straws serve to indicate the direction of the wind. A few weeks ago the men who are now confined in the Peace Camp were being ducked by their irreconcilable comrades, because they attempted to sing “God Save the King”; today at Tucker’s Island, any men who, even inadvertently, attempt to sing the “Volkslied” is ducked by his loyal comrades. Every week adds to the comfort of the Boer prisoners. On some of the islands wooden buildings are being erected to take the place of tents, and I understand that this will be done on all the islands. Last summer, in consequence of the severe drought that prevailed throughout the Colony, it proved a difficult matter to keep Darrell’s and Burtt’s Islands supplied with a sufficient quantity of rain water. To prevent a recurrence of this during the coming summer the War Department has recently completed a contract for the building of a 70,000 gallon tank on Darrell’s Island, and of a 50,000 gallon tank on Burtt’s Island. To the six islands (with an area of over 100 acres) now occupied by the different camps, the War Department has recently added Hinson’s Island (having an area of over 20 acres). This is one of the finest, and is certainly the best situated, of all the islands in the Great Sound. Hinson’s is now being cleared of timber and prepared for the site of a new camp.

EDUCATION IN NATAL

The preponderance of natives and Indians over Europeans in Natal is well brought out by the educational statistics just published as a Blue Book. In his report the Superintendent of Education, Mr. Robert Russell—who, by the way, is retiring after 36 years’ service—says that of the 506 schools under Government inspection 277 are for Europeans, 196 for natives, and 33 for Indians, the native schools being mostly supported by various religious bodies. In the aggregate attendance of 27,113, the Europeans have 12,509, the natives 11,071, and the Indians, 3533. In addition, however, about 1600 European children are being taught privately. In the matter of attendances it is a noteworthy fact that while the Indian children had 53 per cent last year, the Europeans had 73, and the natives 77. If the natives had the greatest number of scholars and the highest rate of attendance, it cannot be said that they have expended upon their education more than other children, for of the £60,742 odd expended, £51,429 odd goes to Europeans, £6593 to natives, and £2718 to Indians. The natives, however, pay no school fees, whereas the Europeans pay £8751 and the Indians £286.

Incidentally Mr. Russell informs the Government that the educational life has resumed its normal condition, and that copies of Mr. W. E. Henley’s ode, “I.M. Reginae Dilectissimae Victoriae,” were sent to all Government schools.

The difficulty of securing native teachers is a serious one, the native being weak, as one would naturally expect, in geography and history. “Arithmetic and grammar are better understood, with a few dismal failures in each.”

Mr. Tatham in the Natal Legislative Assembly on Monday brought forward a motion to approve of the principle of sharing the cost and the responsibility of maintaining the Imperial Navy, with a claim to its administration or control. Objection was taken, however, to the indefinite wording of the motion. The Premier said that the principle had already been admitted, but the difficulty was the amount. The defence of the Colony cost £230,000, and the new burgher law would increase that. The principle of the motion had his support, but he suggested its withdrawal in order that definitiveness might be attained. The debate was adjourned.

Two storekeepers at Bloemfontein have been fined £20 each, and, in addition, three months’ imprisonment for selling a civilian suit of clothes to a soldier.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the Eaton Convalescent Home has been held at Cape Town, the Speaker of the House of Assembly presiding. The report showed a deficiency of £1011, and expressed an earnest hope that additional subscribers would come forward.