The Vision of the Prophet 



be of interest, therefore, to give his answers 

 to some questions I put to him. 



" What are the chief needs of your district ? " 

 I asked. 



" To my mind," said he, " the first great need 

 is drills, and I am glad to learn that Mr Ire- 

 land, the Government Boring Engineer, intends 

 shortly to pay us a visit. Then a railroad from 

 Prieska to Upington is an absolute necessity. 

 This part of Gordonia is essentially a live-stock 

 country. At present we have to drive our 

 animals through heavy sand from Zwart 

 Modder to the railhead at Prieska, a distance 

 of, roughly, 200 miles, and by the time they 

 reach the trucks they are weak with travelling 

 and poor in condition. Furthermore, tele- 

 graphic communication is urgently needed be- 

 tween Rietfontein, Zwart Modder and Upington, 

 if only for humanity's sake, so that a doctor 

 could be wired for in cases of serious illness. 

 Touching the question of underground streams, 

 I am of opinion that water will be found all 

 over the district of Gordonia at depths varying 

 from 30 to 100 feet." 



" Tell me about the Molopo." 



" Well, as you see, this store is standing in the 

 dry bed of the river. Eighteen years ago the 



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