DE\'EL()1',MI-:NT of TIIK coastal BKLT of south AFRICA. 221 



three typical inland towns, johannesbtirg, Kimberley, and Bloem- 

 fontein, obtaining their \vat;or b)- means of pumping and 

 purification, and compare the cost with three typical coast towns, 

 obtaining their water by gravitation from the mountains, namely, 

 Port Eli-zabeth, Capetown, and Kingwilliamstown. The average 

 price charged by the three inland towns is 5s. 8d. per 1,000 

 gallons, and the average ])rice charged by the coastal towns is 

 IS. 3d. per 1,000 gallons, a saving of 4s. 5d. per i,000 gallons. 

 On looking forward to the industrial development of South 

 Africa, we ought to take into view a white population of at 

 least ten millions. With a population of ten millions, and taking 

 the consumption of water at 50 gallons jjer head jjcr day, there 

 would be a saving of £40,000,000 a year, by having the population 

 in the coastal belt, as compared with the inland towns. 



Further, although modern science is capable of taking a 

 more or less polluted water and purifying it, so as to make it a 

 perfectly safe, wholesome, and potable water, it is never (juite 

 the same as Natttre's unpolluted waters. fl(nving from the rocks 

 of an unpolluted catchment area. And. usually, if the public 

 are given the choice between an artificially purified water and 

 one of Nature's unpolluted supplies, they prefer the latter. This 

 is sometimes said to be mere sentiment on the part of the public, 

 and the author as a youth was a very enthusiastic supporter of 

 artificially purified w^ater ; but his enthusiasm considerably abated 

 after being forced to drink, for a year in Nigeria, an artificially 

 perfectly pure water. The water was distilled, and, although 

 e\ery eft'ort was made to aerate it, the author itsed to think 

 regretfully of the delicinus spring water of the Malvern Hills 

 that he used to drink in his school days. 



There is no doubt there is something exhilarating in Nature's 

 pure water, which, so far, man has not been able to imitate or 

 the chemist to dissect. It is like flavottr in fruit; two fruits 

 may be qtiite similar — one may have a deliciotis flavour and the 

 other one not so good. It would ])robably jiuzzle the most 

 expert chemist to detect any chemical difference between them; 

 but the youngest child will appreciate the difference in eating. 

 So, while an artificially purified water may be chemically as 

 good and hygienically as wholesome as Nature's pure water, yet 

 there is something elusively delicious about the latter, which 

 makes the drinking of it more delightful to the ordinary man in 

 the street. So that an abundant supply oi Nature's pure water 

 by gravitation is not the least oi the achantages of the coastal 

 belt for intensive development, and the carrying of large urban 

 jX)pulations. 



The coastal belt may be taken, on an average, as too miles 

 wide, and varying in elevation from sea level to 6.000 feet, so 

 that in this comparatively narrow belt there is a very great variety 

 of climate and vegetable products. Almost every kind of fruit 

 grows prolifically in different parts of the coastal belt, such as 

 bananas, pineapples, pawpaws, loquats. quinces, melons, grapes, 



