200 EFFECTS OF FOREST VEGETATION ON CLIMATE. 



ill grass, and, filling their owners' milk- sacks with rich milk, made 

 every heart to sing for joy. 



" But travellers have before their eyes, in the immense 

 numbers of stumps and roots of enormous trunks of the 

 Acacia giraffe, w^here now scarcely a living specimen is to be seen 

 raising its stately head above the shrubs, and in the ancient beds 

 of the dried-up rivers Matlaurin, Mashua, Molapo, and others — 

 positive demonstration of the departed former fertility of the lands 

 of the Bechuana nation. In fact, the whole country north of the 

 Orange River, and lying east of the Kalahari Desert, presents to 

 the eye of a European, to use the words of the missionary just 

 quoted, ' something like an old neglected garden or field.' " 



Mr. Wilson shows next that this effect cannot be due to 

 cosmical changes, but to " the characteristics of the region and the 

 customs of its inhabitants." 



The natural aridity of the soil, and irregularity of the rains 

 (chiefly thunder- showers), with some other peculiarities, concur 

 to produce occasional, if not periodical droughts, and that of 

 1862 is described in terms that recall to mind our Australian 

 droughts somewhat intensified, and might be taken to describe 

 the latter. The picture drawn by Mr. Wilson is one which in 

 its main features may be easily recognised, and these, I may add, 

 are features of drought in all countries lying within certain 

 geographical limits with similar geological features. And so it 

 has ever been since history has been written ; witness the facts 

 mentioned prophetically by sacred writers, especially the author 

 of the book of Joel, in his first chaper, verses 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 

 17, 18, 20. 



The visitation of 1866 brings to Mr. Wilson's recollection Dr. 

 Livingstone's statements respecting the drought he experienced 

 on the Kolobeng Eiver, in the Bakwain territory, during the first 

 years of his mission work. 



He goes on to answer the question, " Is there any cause, besides 

 tJie interior position of tlie country and the natural aridity of tJie 

 soil, ivhich occasions the advance of drought?'^ He puts in large 

 capital type the following words—" WE ASSEET THEEE IS," 

 and adds — " and that the effects of that originating cause are con- 

 troll ahle, and indeed to a large extent preventahle.'''' He then again 

 . puts in large capitals this sentence—" THE NATIVES HAVE 

 EOR AGES BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO BURN THE PLAINS 

 AND TO DESTROY THE TIIMBER AND ANCIENT 

 FORESTS." The Bechuana, especially the Batlapi and neigh- 

 bouring tribes, are a nation of forest-levellers, cutting doAvn 

 every species of timber, without regard to scenery or economy." 

 We need not consider the purposes for which the timber is 

 appropriated, but may take Mr. Wilson's conclusion as sufficient. 

 " By this means the country for many miles around becomes 



