Chap. V. 
COLONIZATION OF INTERIOK 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 iU 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 vaUey; 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 30tli 
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, offeriug to honest industry a fair remuneration for 
capital, and having a climate unequalled in salubrity for con¬ 
sumptive patients, I should unliesitatingly recommend any farmer 
at all afraid of that complaiut in his family to try tliis colony. 
With the means of education already possessed, and the onward 
and upward movement of the Cape population, he need entertain 
no apprehensions of liis family siukiug 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 iu the colony, we passed tlu’ough districts inhabited by the 
descendants of Dutch and French refugees who had fled Kom 
religious persecution. Those living near the capital differ but 
little Kom the middle classes in English counties, and are dis¬ 
tinguished by public spirit and general intelligence; while those 
H 
