The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-10-01

faA6O3 WhA~A - R6AN ~ @NS
ern boundary. Most Of the rainfall is
absorbed n trickles down into I'M
d%erground strata. In the dry stream
beds and the pans" or dry lakes,
shallow wells usually find an abun-
dance of water for men and stock.
Many wells have been bored to con-
siderable depths and tap abundant sup
plies for individual and community
use. From the slopes of the numerous
mountains that rise from the plateau,
too, springs flow.
Just as a rather extreme lack of
rainfall seems to have decreed that
the southern pleateau country must
be devoted to sheep and goat raising,
so the relatively light rainfall keeps
the southern t~hree-quarters of the
country from agriculture except in a
few small areas where irrigation is
practicable. The region of medium
rainfall, however, Is well adapted to
stock raising and it is in this field
that the greatest development has
been made. Excellent grass grows
over the plateau region, in the noun
tain valleys, and ever in the extreme
east along the edge of the Kalahar1
desert which stretches off into
B-echuanaland.
Before the coming of the Germans
the natives, especially the Hereros, had
large herds of cattle. These were
nearly wiped out by an epidemic of
rinderpest in 1897. An excellent vet
Urinary service, organized by the Ger
man colonial government, took the sit
uation in hand and made the country
once more safe for cattle. Since then
the cattle population has increased
greatly, improved by the importation
Of blooded stock. Horse-breeding is
also carried on successfully and camels
have been introduced and are doing
well.
One Good Farm Section.
The one section of Southwest Africa
well adapted to the European type of
agriculture, and quite the ideal region
from the point of view of the small
farmer, is a small district around
Grootfontein in the north-central por-
ton of the territory. There, in a re
gion about 100 by rs miles, the rainfall
is from "a to % inches annually, the
soil is good, and the climate, thanks
to the altitude, is ideal. This region Is
at the present end of the railway which
penetrates toward the northeast. IN
like most other sections of the terri
tory this little area is reasonably well
wooded. Potatoes, tobacco, wheat and
the other European cereals thrive, as
well as kaflr corn and maize. The
climatic and soil conditions even per-
nit the growing of such different fruits
as grapes, apples and peaches on the
one hand, and citrus fruits IN the
other.
The extreme northern portion Of
Southwest Africa has never been de-
veloped by the European population.
This area next to the Portuguese
frontier is more heavily populated by
natives than any other. 1t has not
been penetrated by railways and only
a few white settlers live there.
Plains alternate with wooded re-
gions. Good timber trees and palms
are scattered about. Undoubtedly this
section is capable of producing cotton,
tobacco, figs and dates, as well as the
present staples, maize and kaffir corn.
1t was known long ago that a large
variety of minerals were present In
the rocks of Southwest Africa. The
copper mines in the northeast have
been the most valuable of the ore de-
velopments. Copper has been found In
less promising quantities elsewhere,
and also tin. Extensive deposits of
marble are known in several parts Of
the territory. Strangely enough, the
worthless appearing coastal desert has
yielded the greatest returns. Diamonds
were found near It's seashore in 1908
and from then until the World war
$5O,O00,0O0 worth were taken out. In
1922 alone $3,5O0,OO0 worth were ex-
ported.
About the Towns.
At present the white population Of
Southwest Africa is almost as much
South African and Boer as it is Ger
man, thousands of Germans having left
the colony after the armistice. The
estimated population is something I'M
der 10000 whites and perhaps 100000
natives.
Walvis bay, the only good natural
harbor, has never been developed.
S~wakopmund and Luderitz bay or An
gra PeQuena are the chief coast towns.
The latter can be made into a port
little if any inferior to Walvis. Swa-
kopmund was entirely a makeshift of
the Germans, with only an open road
stead. But 1t is so solidly constructed
that its abandonment would be un-
thinkable. 1t has a resident popula-
tion of about 1,4O0 whites and $500
natives and is becoming popular as a
seaside resort. Life in the coast cities
is more comfortable than might be sup
posed. The shore is washed by a cold
current which brings cool nights and
tempers the days. The principal diff
Guilty is a lack of fresh water.
Windhoek, the capital, is the most
delightful residence place in Southwest