Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-12-16
Great Drought In Waterberg.

continuous decrease OF surface water from
the earth, especially in Asia and Africa,
the "dry continents" Advocate Eugene
N. Marais, R. J. P, writes from Rietfon-
tein, Waterberg, South Africa, an aston
ishing article recently published in a re-
port OF the Smithsonian Institute.
After mentioning some OF the general
facts relative TO the drying up ofthe whole
earth, which according to the French
astronomer Flammarion will ultimately
cause the end of the world, the author
cites number of appalling instances OF
the increasing dryness ofAfrica. N'gami,
real lake less than so years ago, is now
no more than a marsh threatened with
speedy extinction, and Lake Rudolph is
rapidly shrinking, which fact is alarming
when it is realized that this body OF fwater
feeds the Nile and waters Egypt. Mr..
Marais believes the old doctrine regard
ing the perfect cycle of moisture re-evapora-
tion and precipitation being equal 10 be
false, and that the earth is sucking up
moisture like gigantic sponge, confining
it apparently beyond the reach OF mans
ingenuity.
The name Waterberg was given origi-
nally when this country was very fertile,
watered by lakes, streams, springs, and
dotted with marshes. According TO the
writer, its name was synonymous with a
sort OF lotus land Of fertility it literally
overfowed with milk, honey and fruits.
1t was also the last stronghold OF the big
game OF the northern Transvaal. Today,
alter The eliminating drought OF 1913, it
is practically desert, with dried up wa
Ter courses and springs, dead orange
groves, some of them over fifty years old,
trees three centuries old now lifeless,
desolate pasture lands devoid Of cattle
and other life. There is no game, either
birds or animals, and the fields where
fine crops once grew are now parched
and dead. II is hard 10 believe, but true,
that in the entire district OF Waterberg,
which is larger than the Free State, there
was last year no running water, and in
the north OF the district there is tract
over 1000 square miles in extent where
there is no single drop OF water, running
or stagnant, above the surface OF the
ground. The great Limpopo itself is dry
for all the distance that its course covers
in this district, and only by digging deep
in its sandy bed can drinking water be
found Even after very heavy rain in
the neighborhood OF its source, which
flooded its tributaries al the time, the
stream reached but little way down the
Limpopo, and not one drop OF the water
which fell in the upper regions reached
the sea; all lost in the burning sands OF
the rivers bed. Only the fairly numerous
thermal springs of the district remain un-
affected by the drought, and on them the
dwellers depend for drinking and irriga-
ton. The famous sweet grass OF this re-
gion is nearly gone, though in its place
has come a coarser "Sour" grass with
peculiar drought resisting qualities.
The life history OF this "sour" grass is
truly fairy tale Of botany. It's seeds are
highly specialized, having body shaped
like torpedo with long tapering tail.
They have attained in their perfection the
tadpole shape affected by nature in thouS-
ands OF forms. Magnified these seeds are
seen to be studded all over with sharp
stiff briStles set backward, while in the
head is set an intensely hard horny spike,
sharp as needle, with crown OF har-
poon points at its base. The seeds not
only cling to the coats of animals, and
drift about in the wind, but penetrate into
the internal tissues OF animal and man,
passing through coat. muscle and flesh,
where they cause much discomfort and
great danger. An opportunity OF seeing
a startling wonder OF plant life is offered
when one comes across a mass OF these
seeds drifted together by the wind. If a
little water is sprinkIed on them, tremor
of awakening life is seen TO stir them.
and movements in all directions follow, so
animal like as to leave one in doubt
whether they are really seeds or insects.
First each seed disentangles itself, then
the seedhead is lifted clear Of the ground,
following which bend OF the support
ing tail turns the torpedo head earthward,
and the needle point with its bristles is
thrust into the damp soil by a continuous
pressure OF the tail. This latter move
ment is continued until the seed is EN-
bedded in the soil, the whole operation
occupying Is minutes. II the soil is only
slightly damp the seed penetrates just
beyond the line OF moisture and remains
without terminating until enough rain in
sures the safe sprouting OF the future
Seeding. Thus equipped the sour grass
exists despite the severe drought against
which the sweet grass is helpless.
The effects OF the drought were so far
reaching on the animal world that those
animals capable OF escape fled early from
the stricken area-man with his live stock
among the first-and now the entire mid
die yield is without human inhabitant, and
the north practically a desert. Over
everything lies the silence Of absolute
lifelessness. II seems as if the desert
had reached out an arm and taken unto
itself for all time this great extent of once
fertile county, where for four and half
hours daily in no spot is the temperature
less than 100 degrees.
The terrible heat and the absence OF all
moisture cause singular effects the hair
is so electrified that when Stroked lightly
a cracking shower OF sparks is evoked,
4 10,