Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

NATURE is a powerful mistress, but she is a merci- ful one. If you violate her laws, she will punish you'; but have recourse to her again, and she will reinstate you. Some- times Nature is violated involuntarily. We cannot always lead the life which would please us; bur occupations will not always allow it. Some men have to work in places where the life-giving air which Nature has given us is robbed of a large proportion of its most vital component- Oxygen. When this is 60, the blood becomes impoverished, and disease germs, which are ever present in the air, step in and cause innumerable ills. Languor and Lassitude take the place of Health and Vitality, and life is robbed of its sweetest blessing—good vital health. Nature has been violated in the struggle for existence. How is it possible to regain that lost Vitality? You must return to Nature for the remedy. Herbs are man's Natural Remedy, and to them you must have recourse. They are inexpensive and reliable, and quite harmless, which is more than can be said of most of the advertised patent medicines of to-day. I will send a packet of herbs composed of Sarsaparilla. Tarabaci, Sasafras, Burdock and Liquorise, proportionately mixed and enough to make three pints of excellent blood medicine, post free with instructions for 1/6. Female Herbs, composed of Pennyroyal, Southern- wood, Mugwort, Tanacetum and Ruta- graseoleus, 1/6 per packet, post free. Only address: PROF. DEAKIN, Herbalist. 4266 Swansea.

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A Fight for a Wife. A True Incident oi the African Veldt [By J. H. MORIEN DAVIES.] The following incident occurred on the Low Veldt near a mining camp called Pilgrim's Rest," situated in the North- Eastern Transvaal, not far from the Portugese East African border. Being very swampy, the Low Veldt is a veritable hot-bed for all human enemies. The great heat during summer brings to all but the natives bred and born there, fevers of the most malignant kind. Moreover, as in all very warm countries it is the rendezvous of big game of all kinds peculiar to Africa, and especially large snakes. Out of the latter circumstance, in con- junction with a. custom prevalent amongst the natives of the district, arose the following adventure to a native boy and I., girl." It was a typically brilliant South African day. From a, cloudless sky the tropical sun poured down its relentless rays, fiercely draining the moisture from the already parching earth. Not a breath of breeze stirred the tall grass and thick undergrowth which grew in profusion everywhere. The shimmering glare made the eyes ache, and the intense heat caused a languishing feeling to pervade the limbs. Only the natives born in such a locality would be astir on such a day. Under such conditions. Matani, a strongly-built native, with a heavy knob- kerry swinging in his hand, pantingly made his way along a narrow path wind- ing through the bush to his home. What primitive thoughts passed through his sluggish brain as he walked, it would be hard to conjecture. Judging by the abstract expression on his dusky counten- ance, he might have no thought of any kind. Perhaps he wondered how his "mealies" —the native's staff of life "—progressed if they were ripe for gathering; if his wife, during his lengthy absence, had bossed them up if she had attended to his sweet potatoes and his goats. Such may have been the tendency of his thoughts, for the industrious native never neglects the material things of life. Pos- sibly—and in the light of after events, probably—he was mentally trying to cal- culate how long it would again be neces- sary for him to work in order to obtain enough money, or sufficient head of cattle, to secure for himself another wife! Now, Matani was in happy possession of one wife; but following; the invariable custom of his tribe, lie coveted as many as he could afford to pay for in money or cattle. Moreover, he was matrimonially ambitious. Whether lie was now thinking of this, or of something less distracting, we can- not say. But it is a fact that, of late, Matani had been attentively eyeing a certain dusky damsel of charming propor- tions, who lived in a neighbouring kraal," and whom he had secretly deter- mined should grace his domesticity. The object of his admiration was the daughter of a headman, and, as such, he knew it would require all the influence (influence in these matters plays 'an im- portant part even amongst the natives) obtainable, and much money, to obtain the consent of her proud old father. Moreover, he also knew that he had a host of formidable rivals to contend with, -who were equally eager to win the fair Cauisa. It was this very anxious matter that occasioned him, on this scorching day, to walk the long way from where he worked as "kitchen-boy" to his "kraal." He was now not a mile distant from his destination, and he quickened his pace. The veldt here was very fertile and was covered with tall reeds and thick-growing scrub, with here and there an open space, of which the natives had taken advantage to plant their mealies. Suddenly, as he was threading his way through a thick patch of undergrowth, there broke out on the still air a shrill cry, startling the birds from their perches and bringing Matani to an abrupt halt. He was still wondering what it could mean and where it came from, when it was repeated several times in quick succession. Plainly, it was a woman's voice, and not far distant; and it was evident she was in some danger, for her voice had a terror-stricken note in it. Instantly locating the direction of the sound, Matani da.shed off to the right, scrambling through the dense scrub with all his might, and making; towards an open glade planted with mealies. The screams continued, and lie rapidly drew near the spot from which they came. Arriving at the edge of the clearing, and looking about him, a horrible sight met his eyes. In amongst the ripening mealies he saw a young half-clad native woman struggling with all her might in the deadly coils of a big snake! The snake encircled the girl's naked waist, and had her fast in its writhing grip, one of her arms being pinned to her side by its coils, while with the other she frantically beat at its huge head. Matani instantly recognised the snake—it was a python. Even as he looked he saw the writhing monster poise its ugly head, with its fierce eyes gleaming maliciously, before the* face of its victim, and then dash at her with open mouth and fasten its cruel fangs over her nose and mouth. As she saw its horrible intention, the ir1 gave one terrified, heart-rending scream which was cut short by the snake's ruel fangs. For a moment Matani staggered at the awful sight, but at the same time recognised the girl. "Allah," it was Cauisa! This was enough for the boy. With a shout of aorror lie rushed forward to her assist- ince. He still carried the knob-kerry, and as le neared the girl he raised it, and was ibout to strike the snake with it when 18 realised he could not do so without njuring the girl. For a moment he was it a loss what to do. Instant and effec- tive action, however, was necessary if Matani was to save the girl. The _"4' python's hold oil the girl's face' prevented her breathing, and she was quickly being smothered. She reeled, and gurgling sounds came from her throat. Matani saw all this in a flash and acted bravely. Dropping the club, he gripped the snake with his hands, and buried his ivory-like teeth in its neck immediately behind its uglv head. The boy's desperate action had the effect of making, the python instantly release its hold on the girl's face. This: was what the boy wanted, and it brought relief to the exhausted girl. So close was the boy's grip to its head, that it could not turn and fasten its grip on him. The python now struggled and wriggled fiercely and tightened its coils on the poor girl's body, which made her scream in agony. To and fro they swayed, the boy grimly retaining his hold on the snake with his teeth and trying to un- coil it from the girl. The python, finding; it could not release itself, changed its tactics, and rapidly un- wound itself from the girl, evidently to attack his new enemy. Round and round came its tail with lightning; swiftness, each time trying to obtain a grip on the boy. Matani, however, was prepared, and sprang in the air, or thrust it away with one of his hands. He well knew his chance would be small if the python once had him within its vice-like coils. He managed to elude the snake's circling tail and carefully watched it disengage itself from the girl. As it swung itself free, he sprang back and around, clutching it with both hands, at the same time letting go his held by his teeth, and with all his strength flung it away from him. "R,un, Cauisa; run, run," he shouted. But the poor girl's strength had given out and she sank to the ground in a dead swoon. Seeing this, Matani sprang; to the spot where his knob-kerry lay. and snatched it up. And not a minute too soon, either. The incensed python was on him again, and already returning to the fight, fiercer than ever. Matani dodged cleverly behind a boulder, brandishing his club in readiness. The python, thus foiled again, made a fierce dart at him across the rough sur- face of the boulder. As it came, Matani. swinging high his club with both hands, brought it down with a mighty blow full on the snake's head, rendering it, for an instant, dazed. Quickly following up his advantage, Matani now beat frenziedly at the python's head and soon smashed it to a pulp. When he was sure the python was hors- de-combat, he dropped his blood-stained club, and leant against the rock for sup- port. Although the fight had lasted but a few minutes, it had been fast and furious, and he had scarcely strength left to stand. He had risked his life, and, after a desperate encounter, had saved Cauisa from a shocking death. As soon as he recovered his breath, lie ran to the girl still lying unconscious on the ground. Near to her lay a hoe, and from other evidences he gathered she had been busy weeding the mealy patch, which belonged to her father, the headman. Taking the unconscious Cauisa in his arms, he carried her swiftly away from the scene of the horrible struggle. As he went, forcing his way ihrpugji the bugli, lie noticed that her face had already com- menced to swell. But he knew the bite of a, python was not poisonous, and was not greatly alarmed. Coming presently to a brook, he laid her down on the bank. and with his hands dashed the cool water over her face and breast. He was soon rewarded bv seeing her move and open her eyes, Suddenly, she sat up and looked about her fearfully, and at the same time she put her hand to her face, which evidently pained her exceedingly. Interpreting her startled look, Matani hastened to tell her the python was nowhere near and was dead. She appeared to be greatly relieved at this, and got on her feet and tried to speak. But her lips and nose were now so badly swollen that she could only utter incoherent sounds. Matani. told her lie would take her home, and they soon struck a path which led to the kraal." As they went, the boy assisting her, the girl's face still wore a terror-stricken expression and she trembled like a leaf. She continually looked around as if expecting her fearful assailant to dart out from every bush and again enfold her within its cruel coils. Matani kept reassuring her that she had nothing to fear, as he had killed the inyoga." As the distance was not great, they soon arrived at the kraal," and Matani related their adventure, which caused great excitement. The natives crowded round Matani. and lie had to relate the adventure a dozen times, and scores of questions were rained in upon him. As soon as he indicated the scene of his struggle, a score of young men immediately set off through the bush to the place, where they skinned the python, cut out its teeth, and generally brought away all that was of value to them. They also brought home Matani's club, which was an object of great interest. The trembling Gauisa, was hurried away to her father's hut to be medically attended and to answer the many ques- tions of her inquisitive and sympathising eistergj I may here remark that amongst some of the native tribes of South Africa a peculiar custom prevails. This custom ordains that if an eligible. young man saves the life of an eligible young woman at the risk of his own, ho is entitled to claim her as his wife, without having to pay anything in money or cattle to her people, a.s he would, under any other circumstances, have to do. It was neces- sary only to observe the customary cere- monies. This custom was prevalent amongst the tribe to which Matani and Cauisa belonged, and they both rejoiced in the fact. "I shall have a brave man for my husband," cries Cauisa. "Now," cries Matani exultingly, "I shall claim Oauisa to be my wife." All at once his pecuniary difficulties were removed and all his riva.ls out-distanced. He was master of the situation! Matani and his people lost no time in putting forward his claim, which was strengthened by Cauisa declaring she would marry Matani and have no "husband but he. "Did she not owe her life to him? Would ehe not have suffered a horrible death but for his courage and bravery? Thus said Cauisa. But C'auisa, like all other girls, had nithing to do with the choice of her hus- band. The parents and elderly relatives choose girls their husbands, and they usually choose the man who can and will pay them most in money or cattle! Cauisa was a headman's daughter, and consequently of high station and value in the matrimonial market, and not to be given away so lightly. She was worth in cattle or money to her father, the head- man, and her people about sixty pounds. The headman liked not at all the idea of suddenly losing this windfall, which he had for years calculated to receive on his fair daughter's marriage. So. assisted by Matani s rivals, he raised many objections, one of which was that, as Matani was of lower station, he should pay for the honour of marrying a maiden of high degree. Eventually, however, a meeting of the respective parties was arranged to discuss the situation, and negotiations com- menced, but to no purpose, as the old headman ignored the custom in this case and demanded payment of at least half Cauisa s marriage value, and obdurately stuck to these terms. Nothing woul'd move him. It was decided to put the matter before their petty chief, who had not the power to enforce his opinion if it happened to be unsatisfactory to any of the parties concerned, but whose final arbitration was usually acted upon in minor matters. The chief, after hearing the arguments of both sules, declared that a fair way ° t ,'e difficulty would be that Cauisa's lather should give Matani ten pounds or the equivalent in cattle for the brave service Matani had rendered Cauisa, and Matani to waive all claim to make Cauisa his Wife. The old headman eagerly agreed to this xf J1 Pr°fitakle way out of the difficulty. But Matani would not hear of it. He wanted Cauisa and would have her. He demanded that the "established custom be followed, and that lie be givgn Cauisa "without reserve." But the obdurate old headman could not be induced to thus suddenly relinquish all hopes of receiving .some portion of the sixty pounds which he considered was due to him. So for a time negotiations were at a standstill. Matani fumed and raged, and went a tout the kraal swearing, and declared lie would yet have Cauisa for his wife. "Have I not risked my life for her?" he cried. "Would she not now bo dead," he said. and her marriage value lost for ever, if it were not for; me? Does she not want to become my wife? Who has such a right to her as I? Thus argued Matani. But Cauisa's people were adamant. Finally however. it was decided that the Incosi luolungu," or White Chief, should settle the "inclaba" once and for all. The "Incosi luolungu was the Native Commissioner of the district. He was often called upon to decide matters of various kinds upon which the natives themselves had failed to come to an amicable understanding. It was decided that, whatever the "Incosi's" decision ii,ouict be, it was to be final and both parties were to adhere to it. So one day both factions, each with a li° /-t long-winded witnesses, repaired to the Commissioner's, and presented the case to him, and asked him, in his, superior wisdom, to do justice. The Commissioner, after much lengthy palaver and listening to the evidence of ovi both sides gave his decision in Matani's favour, and said he certainly was entitled to Cauisa gratis. The Iiicosi's decision was hailed by a great shout of joy by Matani and his party, and with dismal faces by the head- man and his followers, and by Cauisa. with coy smiles and undoubted blushes on her dusky cheeks. In gratitude to him for his favourable decision, Matani presented the Commis- sioner with the python's skin. After which they aJl returned; Matani and his party and Cauisa, highly jubilant, to feats and Ina ke preparations for the ceremony. I bus Matani won the object of his admiration by the brave conquest of a python.

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