Chap. V. COLONIZATION OF INTERIOR DISTRICTS. 97 



highly probable that the basin shape prevails over large tracts of 

 the country ; and as the strata on the slopes, where most of the 

 rain falls, dip in towards the centre, they probably guide water 

 beneath the plains but ill supplied with moisture from the clouds. 

 The phenomenon of stagnant fountains becoming by a new and 

 deeper outlet never-failing streams may be confirmatory of the 

 view that water is conveyed from the sides of the country into the 

 bottom of the central valley ; and it is not beyond the bounds of 

 possibility that the wonderful river system in the north, which, if 

 native information be correct, causes a considerable increase of 

 water in the springs called Matlomagan-yana (the Links), extends 

 its fertilising influence beneath the plains of the Kalahari. 



The peculiar formation of the country may explain why there 

 is such a difference in the vegetation between the 20th and 30th 

 parallels of latitude in South Africa and the same latitudes in 

 Central Australia. The want of vegetation is as true of some parts 

 too in the centre of South America as of Australia ; and the cause 

 of the difference holds out a probability for the success of artesian 

 wells in extensive tracts of Africa now unpeopled solely on account 

 of the want of surface water. We may be allowed to speculate a 

 little at least on the fact of much greater vegetation, which, from 

 whatever source it comes, presents for South Africa prospects of 

 future greatness which we cannot hope for in Central Australia. 

 As the interior districts of the Cape colony are daily becoming of 

 higher value, offering to honest industry a fair remuneration for 

 capital, and having a climate unequalled in salubrity for con- 

 sumptive patients, I should unhesitatingly recommend any farmer 

 at all afraid of that complaint in his family to try this colony. 

 With the means of education already possessed, and the onward 

 and upward movement of the Cape population, he need entertain 

 no apprehensions of his family sinking into barbarism. 



The route we at this time followed ran along the middle, or 

 skirted the western zone before alluded to, until we reached the 

 latitude of Lake Ngami, where a totally different country begins. 

 While in the colony, we passed through districts inhabited by the 

 descendants of Dutch and French refugees who had fled from 

 religious persecution. Those living near the capital differ but 

 little from the middle classes in English counties, and are dis- 

 tinguished by public spirit and general intelligence ; while those 



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