PREFACE. 



This volume is one of a series. In the first of the series — a 

 volume published last year, entitled '• Hydrology of South Africa ■ 

 or, Details of the former Hydrographic condition of the Cape of 

 Good Hope, and of causes of its present Aridity, with suggestions 

 of appropriate remedies for this Aridity," — it is stated that the 

 desiccation of the country is attributable, primarily and mainly to the 

 upheaval of the land and the consequent rapid draining oflf of the 

 water with which it was covered and of the subsequent rainfall; 

 and secondarily, to rapid evaporation occasioned by the temperature 

 and latterly promoted by the destruction of forests and herbage 

 and grass. There are adduced facts and testimony indicative of 

 this having been the case ; and in view of these the appropriate 

 remedies for the prevailing aridity are stated to be — the erection of 

 dams to prevent the escape of a portion of the rainfall to the 

 sea, — the abandonment or restriction of the burning of the veldt, 

 — the conservation and extension of existing forests, — and the 

 adoption of measures similar to the reboisement and gazonnement 

 carried out in France, with a view to prevent the formation of 

 torrents and destruction of property occasioned by them. 



There is now in the press, and shortly will be published, a 

 continuation of that volume on the " Hydrology of South Africa,'' 

 supplying illustrations of the practicability of applying the first of 

 these remedies being a report on the water supply of South Africa : 

 its sources, its quantity, the difficulties (physical and other) in the 

 way of works of extensive irrigation being carried out at the Cape, 

 and the means of accomplishing these which are at command, with 

 notices of what has been done in connection with the storage of 

 water and irrigation in other lands. 



