MILITAR Y OPERA TIONS IN SO VTH AFRICA 187 



in the Drakensberg, flow toward the Indian Ocean. As the}' fall 

 thousands of feet in a comparatively short horizontal distance, the}' 

 are naturally characterized by many waterfalls and rapids. The 

 country is seamed with ravines, which grow narrower and whose sides 

 become steeper as the mountains are ap])roached. There are many 

 hills, some nearly circular in shape, others in the form of ridges, 

 whose sides are generally steep and strewn with boulders. 



In the central plateau, which is lowest near its western border, the 

 country generally apj^ears level, but hills rise abruptly from the plain, 

 with sides in many cases so steep and rough that it is difficult to get 

 guns up even when the hills are undefended. 



The rivers, after heavy rains, become swollen, and in the dry 

 season have but little water, and at times none at all. They gener- 

 ally run through gullies considerably below the level of the banks, 

 and this makes them difficult to cross. They are useless for pur- 

 poses of navigation and merely serve as obstacles. 



The rain winds come principally from the Indian Ocean, and as 

 the Drakensberg cuts off the moisture, it is much drier west of that 

 range than east of it. The average yearly rainfall at Durban is over 

 39 inches, while at Bloemfontein it is only about 21. The rainy 

 season is in the summer, which corresponds in time to our winter. 



The South African Republic and the Orange Free State are very 

 sparsely settled, and the principal occupation is cattle-raising. In 

 the rainy season grazing is good on the veldt. In the dry season the 

 grass dries up and the cattlemen have to move their stock from 

 place to ])lace in search of water. Tbe country is generally some- 

 what barren, and, except in the southeastern ])art of the Orange Free 

 State, in the country around Wepener, not much attention is given 

 to agriculture. 



THE KKCESSITY OF JJAII.WAYS 



South Africa is largely dependent upon railroads for transjiorta- 

 tion. All countries are, of course; but South Africa, on account of 

 aljsence of good roads and navigable streams, is particularly so. 

 The i)resent Cape Colony system of railroads is divided into four 

 sections — tiie western, ncn-thern, midland, and eastern. The western 

 starts at Cape Town and extends to De Aar, 501 miles. At De Aar 

 the northern section begins, and extends through Kimberley and 

 along tlie western border of the Orange Free State to Vryburg. At 

 the latter place the Rhodesia road begins, running on through 



