So 
The Australasian Scientific Magazine. [Sept, i, 1885. 
to hand, and it is not even known where he breathed his last. His poli- 
tical career has been short but unique. Within the last twelve months 
Germany has entered the band of colonising powers, and Dr. Nachtigal 
was the instrument chosen by Prince Bismarck to carry out his policy of 
annexation, in Africa at least. The Chancellor has often expressed his 
pride in the sterling qualities of his “ more immediate countryman ” of the 
Old Mark of Brandenburg, and it doubtless gave him pleasure to think 
that the man whom he found worthy to entrust with the execution of his 
latest schemes of foreign policy first drew breath near his own family estate 
of Schonhausen. 
Mr. Gamble, the Hydraulic Engineer for the Cape of Good Hope, in 
his official report prepared for Parliament, thus refers to the subject of 
desiccation, on which, from his varied experience, he is entitled to speak 
with some authority. “ I have been investigating/’ he says, “old records 
and books of travel with a view of endeavouring to discover how far the 
statement is true that South Africa is drying up. There is little doubt that 
many springs and streams are not so constant as they used to be, but is the 
cause of this a deficient rainfall, or some failure of the rain to reach the 
underground strata, from whence the springs are fed ? Rainfall records do 
not reach back very far, the longest register is that kept at the Royal 
Observatory for forty-five years. This shows no falling off of rainfall in 
this neighbourhood. Travellers seventy and a hundred years ago described 
the Karroo and its droughts in much the same terms as we do now, I 
cannot believe that any considerable climatic change has taken place in 
historic times. But I have no hesitation in saying that the reckless cutting 
down of bush and trees both by natives and by white men, as well as the 
burning of bush and grass so extensively practised, has prevented the 
rainwater from sinking in to feed the springs. I have seen numbers of 
places that used to be “ riet vleys ’ in the memory of man, and were in 
that condition suitable for feeding springs, which are now bare 1 vloors 1 
intersected by deep gullies. Off these the raiirwater flows without sinking 
in. Overstocking leads to the same result. The only remedies are 
fencing and planting on an extensive scale, and, where practicable, the 
making of artificial lakes.” 
IMPORTANT NOTICE. 
We have much pleasure in informing our readers that in our October 
number will appear a portrait of James Stirling, Esq., F.G.S., F.L.S., 
F.B.S.A., Etc., Etc., the well-known Australian geologist. 
Punted for the Proprietors by 11 illiavi Inch's t Printer amt Jtfb/isher, j’7, jA, and 
39 Pli?iders Street East. Melbourne* 
