FLOOD LANDS AND WATER SUPPLY. 89 



are the meadows, swamps, inlets, bogs, soft 

 places, or lagoons, which in every natural river 

 lie on either side of its banks where the country 

 is fairly level. Needless to say, where a river 

 passes through a rocky defile there can be no 

 flood lands, and any rush of water merely 

 deepens and slightly widens the stream. 



During its summer or perhaps it would be 

 more correct to say during its drought level, 

 when the water recedes below its average banks, 

 the flood lands become almost dry, and in that 

 aspect rather offer themselves for cultivation, or 

 permanent occupation. 



Little objection, from the river's point of view, 

 can be taken to their being used as osier or 

 water cress beds, or as preserves for snipe. 

 But they rightly and naturally belong to the 

 river, just as much as a reserve fund belongs 

 to a Bank; and if once this fact is lost sight 

 of, and they are used for other purposes, nature 

 is certain to be revenged in her usual slow and 

 sure method. 



The very fact of these damp places being 

 left undrained and uncultivated renders their 

 soil spongy, mossy, and fibrous; in which state 

 it both absorbs and retains moisture during the 

 weeks or months of a prolonged drought, and 

 also promotes the growth of vegetation which 

 may in its turn retain, utilise, or even induce 

 an increased rainfall. 



But for the possession of its flood lands, 

 therefore, a river could almost run itself dry, 

 or at least become resolved into a mere 



