Farming and Irrigation. 95 
had been crushed by the mass. One hippopotamus was carried against 
the bows of the steamer and killed : one crocodile, 35 feet long, was 
also killed. The Governor, who was in the marsh, had to go five miles 
on a raft to get to his steamer." 
A similar cabbage-like aquatic plant may be seen 
floating down any clear water until they are arrested by a 
snag or tree branch and then an island begins to form ; 
this is most noticeable in the Anira and its branches, and 
along the canals which were dug to form wing dams. 
The little plants are carried along by the stream and at 
the end of the canal they have formed quite a barrier to 
the escaping water, so much so that the water is now 
checked about 18 inches higher than it was in October, 
1878, the water at west of stop-off being 53.75 against 
52 at the same date in 1878. In the same way a little 
attention in directing the vegetable aquatic growth, and 
water may be guided at discretion. On the Aroabisce 
Coast the sand dunes already form the back dams ; and 
at a trifling cost the water could be made to follow the 
foot of this ridge from creek to creek, as is now done 
where lakes are already formed. 
Having thus endeavoured to clear up any doubts that 
may linger in men's minds as to danger from pent-up 
water, I shall now attempt to lay down simple rules by 
which to lay an embargo upon our creeks so as to store 
water against seasons of drought. 
A system of caisson sluices has become quite common 
now, for placing such adjuncts to drainage and navigation 
at extended points along our fore-shore which could not 
be done except at an enormous cost and risk, without some 
such appliance. The caissons are equally eligible for 
