NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



definite estimate of the probable cost of either. The 

 cost would be very considerable — one guess places 

 it at ^20,000. The distance to be enclosed is 

 approximately 13 miles. 



" The construction of the enclosure would not, 

 however, dispose of the requirements. In the absence 

 of all certainty upon the point, your Committee will 

 assume that the natural food of the Reserve (which 

 is some 3000 morgen in extent) would be adequate 

 to maintain a sufficient number of Elephants for 

 preservation without artificial feeding. But the 

 natural water-supply is totally inadequate — ^which 

 indeed appears to be a main cause of the Elephants' 

 present roaming proclivities. There are no natural 

 sheets of water such as the Elephant loves, the occa- 

 sional pools collected from rain water, and even the 

 drinking supplies dry up after a short interval of 

 cessation of rainfall. 



" Therefore, for whatever small remnant of the 

 herd was kept in the Reserve, it would be necessary 

 to make artificial provision for water. It is not 

 certain whether suitable underground supplies are 

 available. The indications point both ways, but 

 the preponderating expert opinion, which appears to 

 be that of the Director of Irrigation, seems to be 

 that the underground water, if found, would be salt 

 and useless. We shall, therefore, possibly or prob- 

 ably be reduced to the construction of works for 

 storage ; and in view of the irregularity and paucity 

 of the rainfall, the works necesjsary to ensure a suffi- 



272 



