The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11

DIR. Passarge Lectures i'm Berlin ON
the Limestone Basins.

Letter II LOnQOn ctauudiu.
At recent meeting Of the Geological Society
in Berlin a very interesting lecture was given by
Dr. Passarge the limestone basins OF the
Kalahari those peculiar formations In which
the influence of higher animal life on the shape
of the earth's surface can be traced These
basins are craterlike depressions in the earth
which are to be found in parts of the Kalahari
desert. where graywacke rocks occur These
limestone and calcareous deposits and 1t is in
this layer that the basins are formed. Their
and they are surrounded by steep walls. varying
in height, but not exceeding ten metres. The
basins are filled with spring water and aner
There is an entrance only at one point TO such
basin, and this is surrounded by blocks of lime
stone These basins naturally served water
ing places for the wild animals of the desert.
and as the Kalahari formerly swarmed with
seasons TO these basins was enormous
The Kalahari is by. no means devoid of vege-
true, wither or die during the dry seasons, but
afford the animals excellent food during the
rainy seasons The district was formerly popu-
lated by large herds of elephants. rhinoceros.
antelope, giraffe, gnu zebra, etc. During the
pools. so-calied fleets" were to be found every
where then. When these dried up and the wild
growing melons nad i all animals n
were regarded as continuous sources OF water.
The time when these animals We're so abundant
slaughter carried on after the discovery OF tire
Ngam lake by Livingstone soon exterminated
the game. In the year 1S49 over 500 elephants
were killed on a small river flowing into the
lake. The sporting adventures of that time
killed everything, without exception that they
The crowding OF the game to the watering
drinking but also for bathing purposes telepha nts
and other animals delight 10 roll in mud, gave
the basins. which were probably only simple deN
nressions originally, their present shape Through
the rolling and other movements of the animals
away from his bath certain amount of cal
careous mud on his body Thus the following
out caused. Elephants and other animals
nave the habit of rubbing themselves along rough
places, and therefore, the walls OF the basins
present steepness. The water Itself contains
lime carbonate in solution. and with the water
peared and the fresh spring water ABSORBED ,rsei
another supply from the rock, thus deepening
DR. Passarge calculated that the basins had a
cubic capacity of from 500 20. ooe cubic me
tres, according to their size, that from 800 TO
SOC years may have passed before the water
pools became basins Many basins have ter
races on their banks. probably in consequence OF
gradual drying up of the basin. The lecturer
assumed that the climate of South Africa must
formerly have been much moister Further de-
tails OF the long migrations of the animals sand
Of their water requirements which DIR. Pas.arge
gave. We're very interesting The draught oxen
during the night at the beginning OF the rainy
season and were recaptured a water basin
se nrS is from Hsmburs The animals hsa th s
lopez the whole distance Wild animals are
According to Investigations made at the zoolog-
ical gardens in Berlin, ar elephant drinks 80 10
4 " a
antelope from to IA ltres. a giraffe IA litres
a dromedary II litres, buffalo So litres oxen "a
litres, donkeys and zebras 10 to Is litres etc
Animals moving about the desert would natura iiv
drink much more After march, when me
oxen and donkeys of a caravan had To 90 MIR
out water for over fortyeight hours. the donkeve
drank 80 litres and the oxen 100 litres each II
the evening of the day the amount d,,,ri.
by the anirsals fell by half. In discussia,,
which followed. 1t was stated that, according n
old pictures. large herds of buffaioes mus -. ~
inhabited the Kalahari formerly II was sIse
suggested that similar depressions in caIcareons
districts Of the American praires are due IL
the way. to the enormous herds OF bisor.
which formerly inhabited them. oiiS