Withoutatpresententeringminutelyintothisfeatureoftheclimate，itmayberemarkedthattheKurumandistrictpresentsevidenceofthisdrysouthernregionhaving，atnoverydistantdate，beenaswellwateredasthecountrynorthofLakeNgamiisnow。
Ancientriver-bedsandwater-coursesabound，andtheveryeyesoffountainslongsincedriedupmaybeseen，inwhichtheflowofcenturieshasworntheseorificesfromaslittoanovalform，havingontheirsidesthetufasoabundantlydepositedfromtheseprimitivewaters；
andjustwherethesplashings，madewhenthestreamfellontherockbelow，maybesupposedtohavereachedandevaporated，thesamephenomenonappearsManyofthesefailingfountainsnolongerflow，becausethebrinkoverwhichtheyranisnowtoohigh，orbecausetheelevationofthewesternsideofthecountryliftsthelandawayfromthewatersupplybelow；butletacuttingbemadefromalowerlevelthanthebrink，andthroughittoapartbelowthesurfaceofthewater，andwaterflowsperennially。
SeveraloftheseancientfountainshavebeenresuscitatedbytheBechuanasnearKuruman，whooccasionallyshowtheirfeelingsofself-esteembylaboringformonthsatdeepcuttings，which，havingoncebegun，theyfeelboundinhonortoperseverein，thoughtoldbyamissionarythattheycanneverforcewatertorunuphill。
ItisinterestingtoobservetheindustryofmanyBoersinthisregioninmakinglonganddeepcanalsfromlowerlevelsuptospotsdestituteoftheslightestindicationofwaterexistingbeneathexceptafewrushesandapeculiarkindofcoarse，reddish-coloredgrassgrowinginahollow，whichancientlymusthavebeentheeyeofafountain，butisnowfilledupwithsofttufaInotherinstances，theindicationofwaterbelowconsistsoftherushesgrowingonalong，sandyridgeafootortwoinheightinsteadofinafurrow。