The Great Drought Problem of South Africa. 119 



in turn leads to a diminisliing efficiency of the rainfall. These 

 factors are discussed in the report in the order given hereunder. 



Rainfall. 



When seeking the cause of the ever recurring droughts, periods 

 when natural veld grazing has become so scarce, and the supply of 

 water at the drinking places so diminished, that loss of stock results, 

 the question of rainfall is of first consideration. This still engages the 

 attention of the Commission, but no evidence has been brought 

 forward to prove that tlie average rainfall in South Africa has 

 changed during recent historic times. Variations occur and there are 

 good and bad years, but there is no definite tendency traceable of 

 eitber an upward or downward direction. Personal reminiscence is 

 misleading : there are many people who assert that the nature oi the 

 rainfall has altered and that the gentle, soakiug and regular rains of 

 yore are giving way to innumerable small and useless showers or to 

 violent and devastating thunderstorms. Be this as it may, it must 

 be conceded that the rains of last generation fell on unbroken, under- 

 stocked grazing lands, and were more lasting in their beneficial results 

 than rains of equal magnitude falling to-day on veld overstocked, 

 tramped out, semi-waterproof, hard-baked by sun and veld fires. 

 Herein, indeed, lies the kernel of the drought problem: while the 

 quantity of rainfall received shows little variation, its utility has 

 certainly diminished for the quantity that is absorbed by the soil is 

 continuously decreasing. 



The Commission outlines the position briefly as follows: — 



1. No proof was submitted that the mean annual rainfall of the 

 Union has altered appreciably within recent historic times. Nor is 

 it considered likely that such a change has taken place. 



2. According to the evidence of many witnesses there has been 

 an alteration in the nature of our rainfall within the last few decades. 

 No measurements have as yet been submitted either supporting or 

 rebutting this statement; but it is well within the bounds of possi- 

 bility. There is nothing to show whether this alteration, if it exists, 

 is a permanent or only a temporary change. 



3. While the mean annual rainfall remains constant its economic 

 value has to a very great extent been reduced by the alteration in 

 the properties of the surface of the country for which man is 

 responsible. In this reduced utility of rainfall must be sought the 

 secret of our " droughts." 



Kraaling of Stock. 



South Africa is essentially a pastoral country, the greatest portion 

 of it being devoted to animal husbandry, and as a general rule all 

 live stock are dependent for their sustenance on the natural veld 

 herbage. And it is over the areas where small stock farming is prac- 

 tised that the effects of drought are most severe, so that it is from 

 this quarter the causes are to be sought. Most farmers kraal or 

 concentrate their small stock at night at certain fixed places, due 

 largely as a protection against the depredations of the jackal. But 



