THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 113 



on, with, of course, the proviso that sufficient water 

 can be raised. Brackish water is very healthy for 

 man when once used to it, but its beneficial effects 

 on cattle are very evident and indisputable, and 

 probably the majority of waters tapped in this 

 part of the country by the artesian or any other 

 process would turn out more or less " brak," and 

 in most cases admirably suitable for cattle, the 

 market for which, as before stated, is chronically 

 under-supplied throughout South Africa to such 

 an extent that not only is beef a luxury, but con- 

 densed milk, Irish and Dutch butter and cheese, 

 have to be largely imported for the supply of the 

 mere handful of inhabitants peopling the immense 

 areas within Colonial boundaries. 



Blame for this state of things is undeservedly 

 thrown on the Boers and farmers, but it would be 

 more just to take rational account of the natural 

 sterility of the country generally, the prevalence 

 of diseases, and the results thus entailed on stock- 

 breeding. By a successful opening up of the 

 possible waters of the Kalliharri, and its occupation 

 by settlers, the Cape would be far more enriched 

 than by the discovery of any likely amount of 

 gold which naturally merely passes through the 



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