CnAP. VI. KURUMAN— WATER SUPPLY. 75 



CHAPTER VI. 



Kuruman. — Missionaries : their duties and labours, — Outrage 

 of Boers. — Retaliation. — Notices of Bakwains. 



The permanence of the Kuruman station depends entirely 

 on the fine ever-flowing fountain of that name. The water 

 usually issues at a temperature of 72° Fahr., and probably 

 comes from the old silurian schists, which formed the bottom 

 of the great primaeval valley of the continent. I could not 

 detect any diminution in the supply during my residence in 

 the country ; but when Mr. Moffat first attempted a settlement 

 here, thirty-five years ago, he made a dam six or seven miles 

 off, which is now never reached by a single drop of the fountain 

 water. There are places fourteen miles below the Kuruman 

 gardens, which are pointed out as being frequented by hippo- 

 potami within the memory of living people, and having pools 

 sufficient to drown both men and cattle. This diminution of 

 the water must be ascribed to the general desiccation of the 

 country, though much of what formerly passed onwards is 

 consumed by the irrigation carried on at the mission station 

 along both banks of the stream. 



The Kuruman district presents evidence that this dry 

 southern region was at no distant date as well watered as the 

 country north of Lake JSgami is at present. Ancient river- 

 beds abound, and the very eyes of fountains long since dried 

 up may be seen, in which the flow of centuries has worn these 

 orifices from a slit to an oval form. On their sides are the 

 tufa, which was abundantly deposited from the primitive 

 waters. Many of these fountains run no longer, because the 

 outlet is now too high, or because the elevation of the western 

 side of the country lifts the land away from the water-supply 

 below. If a cutting is made from a lower level to the springs 

 they gush forth in a perennial stream. Several of these 

 ancient fountains have been resuscitated by the Bechuanas 

 near Kuruman. Their hydraulic works are not always re- 

 markable for the intelligence displayed in them. They will 



