Cecil Rhodes, Man and Empire-MakerRadziwill, Catherine, Princess
History
Cecil Rhodes, Man and Empire-Maker
Radziwill, Catherine, Princess
Rhodes, Cecil, 1853-1902; South Africa -- Politics and government
"First," says this forceful document, "I would note Miss Hobhouse's
frequent acknowledgments that the various authorities were doing their
best to make the conditions of Camp life as little intolerable as
possible. The opening sentence of her report is, 'January 22.--I had a
splendid truck given me at Cape Town through the kind co-operation of Sir
Alfred Milner--a large double-covered one, capable of holding twelve
tons.' In other places she refers to the help given to her by various
officials. The commandant 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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