Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-09
AFTER WATER.

The Shifts to Which People Resort in vari-
Gus Parts of the World.
From the New York Sun.
When Mr.. David Lindsay returned from his
expedition across a part of the Australian
desert while ago he said the whole Of thai
almost waterless country was inhabited by
natives who get their water supply by draining
the roots Of the malice tree which yield guam
titles Of pure water. This tree, absorbing
moisture from the air, retains in it considerable
quantities in its roots and thus makes it pos
sible to live in an arid region which would
otherwise be uninhabitable.
There are people in other parts Of the world
who get their supply Of water in q peculiar
way. The explorer, Coudreau, for instance,
found while ago while wandering among the
Tumuc-Humac mountains, in the western part
Of Guiana. that it was not necessary for his
men to descend to creek when they wanted a
drink of water. A vine known as the water
vine is found all through that region. Ityields
an abundant supply Of excellent drinking fluid
whenever it is called upon. This vine grows to
height Of sixty to ninety feet. 1t is usually
about as thick as the upper part Of the human
arm. 1t winds itself loosely around trees
Chambers up to their SUBMITS. and then falls
down perpendicularly to the ground, where it
takes root again.
The natives cut this vine off at the ground.
and then, at a height Of about six or seven feet,
they cut 1t again, which leaves In their hands a
very stout piece of wood little longer than
themselves. In order to obtain its sap they raise
the lower end Of the vine upon some support
and apply the upper end to their mouths. The
section Of the vine, while showing a smooth,
apparently compact surface, is pierced with
many little veins, through which the sap flows
freely. Six feet of the vine gives about a piut
OF water, which is slightly sweet to the taste.
Coudreau says that it queuches thirst effect
lively as water from the most refreshing
brook.
The bushmen in the Kalahari desert often
live scores of miles from places where water
comes to the surface. During certain part
OF the year sharp storms pass over the
kalahari. covering the apparently arid re-
giOn with the brightest OF verdure
and filling, for few short days. the wa
ter courses with roaring torrents. The BUSH
men know how to find water by digging in the
bottoms Of these dried up river beds. They
dig hole three or four feet deep and then tie
q sponge to a hollow reed. The sponge alb
serbs the moisture at the bottom OF the hole,
and the natives draw it into their mouths
through the reed. and then empty 1t into
calabashcs for future use.
The animals that inhabit such wastes as the
Kalahari are of course accustomed to living
upon very small and lnfrequent supplies of
water. The Bechuans do not lead their cattle
to the drinking places Ottener than once in two
or three days 1t is said that goats in the Kali
ahari frequently pass months without water,
and. according to Mr.. Mackenzie, there are
certain antelopes which are never seen to visit
the drinking places
In that enormous waste known as the Cobb
desert. north Of China, showers sometimes fall
during the summer, and the torrents Of day
ill the dried-up water courses through which
water seldom runs. 1t is in these channels that
the Mongols dig their wells, expecting to find
little water, when upon the surface of the
plateau itself the soil has lost all traces OF hu-
mildly. 1t is owing to the fact that part Of
the moisture falling during few rainy days is
thus preserved within reach that it il possible
for caravans to cross the desert