Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

15 articles on this Page

Advertising

.I AMONG THE ZULUS.I

News
Cite
Share

I AMONG THE ZULUS. I MARIA RATSCHITZ, NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA, I March 27th, 1897. TO THE EDITOR. I SIR,-I am penning this letter in the midst of Zulus-front and rear—all Zulus. This is one of the Zulu Catholic Mission Stations conducted by the Trappist Monks, aided by the Sisters of the Order of the Precious Blood. I forgot to mention in my previous letters that the Natal Government allow all clergymen to travel on their railway lines for two-thirds less than ordinary passengers. I have found this very convenient. I may also inform you that the Natalians owe the existence of the 300 miles of railway running through the Natal Colony to the discovery of gold in large quantities in the Transvaal. The railway line through Natal would never pay, but it is the road to Johannes- burg, which is a vast field of gold, and induces enormous traffic. Nataljjitself is being opened up and villages are getting to be numerous and large. If the invalids of England and Ireland, who have means to travel, but spend their lives in the agonies of bronchitis and consump- tion, especially in winter at home, but knew the health-giving climate of Sunny Natal, they would come without hesitation from damp and cold to this land of sun. I have met many people who came out to Natal in the early stages of bronchial, lung, and chest diseases, who are now strong and healthy. You will be glad to learn that there are several Sanatoriums in Natal conducted by Nuns and patronized by people of various nations without any religious distinction. In each of them there are Sisters who have medical certificates and the cuisine in all prove the presence of good cooks. As I am telling you of customs in the Colony, I may add that by law a great bell rings in each town and village in Natal at nine o'clock each night to warn all Kaffirs to be within doors, and if any Kaffir is found out of house after that bell has rung, he or she is arrested and punished, unless satisfaction can be given for the late hours. Besides this, there is also a law that no publican is allowed to serve intoxi- cating drink to a Kaffir. These laws tend to good order. But to come back to the mission of Maria Rats- chitz. This mission derives its name from a German Catholic benefactor who resides in Maria Ratschitz in Germany. In a previous letter 1 mentioned that there are in the Vicariate of Natal nineteen Catholic Missions for the natives, conducted by 300 Trappist Priests and brothers and 200 sisters of the congregation of the precious blood, nearly every one of whom is German and let it be added to the eternal credit of Germany that nearly all the money (an enormous sum) sub- scribed up to this for the foundation and sup- port of these missions has come from the nockets of rich German Oibtholicq. Those whw a very generous donation have the privilege of having a certain mission to be founded called by such name as the benefactor may suggest. Hence the missions and villages so founded have real Catholic names. The head village where the Abbot resides is Marianliill so called in honour of the mother of the Blessed Virgin, I Saint Ann, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. My visit to this Mission of Maria Ratschitz was made under very auspicious circumstances. Having availed myself of the railway from Lady- smith to Washbank I found a waggon drawn by oxen and managed by two Zulus awaiting my arrival at the latter station they had come from the Monastery to meet me. I had a drive of 31 hours over a good road and through a fertile country. It was evening and the sun was setting-oh such a glorious sunset-it was one of the most gorgeous I had ever wit- nessed, and that is saying a great deal, for I have seen the sun setting in Canada, in Italy, and in various parts of Africa. Let me describe this Trappist Mission the buildings, some of brick and stone, and some of wood and corru- gated iron, and some of mud covered with thatch, are nearly all a good specimen of holy poverty. This' is one of the most recently founded and one of the poorest of the Trappist foundations. It was opened on the second of February, 1890, and during that time has done solid work. It has two priests, one choir brother, ten lay brothers, and fourteen nuns. The buildings form a terrace at the base of a high mountain which is capped with foliage and carpetted with grass. The community own 8,000 acres, much of which is under cultivation. The orchard islarge and has thousands of apple, pear, orange, and lemon trees. There is a vineyard of 10,000 vines. Tobacco is also culti- vated and as to vegetables they are legion. The work is done by the community whose motto is Pray and Work," and by the Zulu boys and girls who number 135 and are kept in the boarding schools'of the mission. A certain time is given daily to schools and a certain number of hours to work. All manner of trades are taught besides garden work, such as waggon making, carpentry, cabinet making, black- smiths, stone cutting, masonry; and for girls every species of domestic employment and needle-work. The number of baptised Zulus on the station is 285 and the number of Catechumens, that is of persons preparing for baptism, is 200, 104 are confirmed, 75 have made their first communion. The attendance at Daily Mass is about 160. Sunday Mass and evening Bene- diction average attendance 300. Is not this a magnificent result of seven years' work? Seven years ago all were heathens, to day the cross is uplifted and the name of Jesus is on the tongues and in the hearts of hundreds. The two priests have very hard labour they have several stations at distances of from one to four hours on horse-back and to all these they go to teach the Zulus Catechism two days a week. I remained four days as the guest of the good monks, and thus had an opportunity of seeing the mission in full swing. On Sunday I celebrated the parish mass. I was overjoyed, the Zulus filled the chapel from the very altar to the door. All knelt on the flagged iloor- there are no seats. The devotion of the people was most edifying. The whole scene brought to my mind the transfiguration of Jesus. The superior of the mission preached in Zulu, and when the mass was finished I knelt in adoration and thanksgiving on the paiement of that holy sanctuary, thanking God for such marvellous manifestations of his grace to the people of this lovely spot. JAMES O HAIRE. I

THOSE WHO LABOUR.

THE FISHING BIGHTS AT LLANELLY.

ALL WHO SUFFER FROM - - RUPTURES

THE CONDITIONS OF LABOUR.…

THE OLD TOWN HALL. I

TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. I

A RUNAWAY HORSE AT LLAN-IELLY.…

WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, AND AVOID.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, SEASIDE.…

BROADOAK COLLIERY EXPLO- .1'..…

i THE LOCAL CUP COMPETITION…

I KID WELLY NATIONAL SCHOOL…

Advertising