THE FUTURE OF CAPE COLONY. 429 



can hold 25,000,000,000 gallons, but it is never likely 

 to be filled to overflowing. Last year no less than 

 4,000,000,000 gallons were contained. The Vlei had 

 the appearance of an inland sea, and the Boers 

 flocked from all parts of the surrounding country- — 

 in many cases from extraordinary distances — to 

 witness the prodigy. This and other efforts of the 

 Cape Government are likely to bring forth good 

 fruit in coming years. 



But in addition to irrigation by the catching and 

 storage of water by reservoirs, other sources are 

 available. Until quite recently, it was imagined that 

 the Great Karroo could never be made available, 

 save for the depasturage of the farmers' flocks. 

 This mighty plain, waterless though it apparently is, 

 has a marvellously rich soil, sun-baked, it is true, yet 

 none the less fruitful where water can be brought to 

 bear. It has long been known that streams of water, 

 arrested by igneous dykes — called by the Boers yzer 

 klip kopjes (iron stone ridges) — run plentifully beneath 

 the surface of the plains. These are now being 

 tapped and made use of. Windmills and wells are 

 beginning to appear upon the karroo with highly 

 successful results, and will undoubtedly now rapidly 

 multiply. There are enthusiasts who predict that 

 the whole of the Great Karroo plateau will one day 

 smile with crops of waving corn ; and though this 

 may be too sanguine an estimate, yet many more 

 improbable things have come to pass. 



It can scarcely be credited that for years the 

 Cape colonists have been importing wheat from 

 abroad at the rate of ^'300,000 to £600,000 per 

 annum, and this while thousands of acres of rich 

 land within their borders have been lying wasted and 



