THE DESICCATION OP AFRICA 
14a 
the other side at the time of its rise frequently lost all hope of 
being able to recross it and, in their despair, married other 
men. It is also asserted that great quantities of reeds grew 
in it. Much water is said to have come down from the Molopo, 
which formed a junction near the Korana village as well as 
down another river called Misiri. The Koranas stated that 
the Battaru dried up the rivers by witchcraft.’ 
(b) ‘ The Bushmen state that in the days of their forefathers 
a number of large animals lived in the country which became 
extinct and disappeared from the face of the earth. On 
the plains drained by & the Swart Kei, giraffes browsed on the 
trees of the Tsomo and other portions of the lower country. 
Immense herds of buffalo must have frequented the brakes, 
and thousands of elephants roamed through the forest glades, 
not only of the coastline, but also in every portion of 
the country, while the abounding hippopotami laved their 
sides in every deep pool to be found throughout the land. 
Instead of the deep chasms now found cutting through and draining 
the water from the plains, chains of deep Zeekoegats or hippo 
pools occupied their place, and wide spreading beds of reeds 
not only surrounded them, but frequently linked them in one 
unbroken line.’ 
( c ) ( Such then are the companions of the Bakalahari, whilst 
the Kalahari which affords them shelter and protection, is 
also one of the last places of refuge of the fast disappearing 
Bushman race. This great area has been called a desert 
because, though intersected by beds of ancient rivers, it 
contains no running water and very little in wells. The beds 
of the former streams contain much alluvial soil, which being 
baked hard by the burning sun, rain water in places stands 
in pools for several months of the year.’ 
(d) Visit of J. Campbell to Battaru, a branch of the Bakuena, 
1820, ‘ Lakesi ’ (chief) stated that when he was a boy the 
Koeromanie river ran along the desert, but since that time 
it has ceased to do so. 
‘ Dr. Livingstone’s Travels ’ also contains references to this 
question. Writing of his journey to Lake Ngami in 1849, 
he says : ‘ We proceeded down the dry bed of the River Makoko. 
The name refers to the water-bearing stratum before alluded 
