THE DRIEST SPOT IN BRITISH TERRITORY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 41, 28 May 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE DRIEST SPOT IN BRITISH TERRITORY.

WHERE BRITISH AND GERMAN EMPIRES MEET. Where is the driest part of the British Empire? , . Those who ought to know tell us it is found in the south-west corner of the vast Kalahari Desert right on the boundary line between British and Germ-m territory in South-West Africa. Here," on a wide sea of vermillioii sand, which is wind-swept into the most fantastic and beautiful crests and curves, in one of the loneliest spots on earth, stands International Beacon No. Sij. Jn the near distance it looks just like an old English sign-post with -i rough heap of stones around its base. Coming closer you find an iron plate at the top of the' post. On the east side —the British side—"British Territory' is written beneath the Royal Arms. On the west side is the writing " Deutsche* Scliutzgebiet," with the German eagle. These beacons arc the only marks ol the actual boundary line between the two countries. Even these are many miles apart. In some places it is impossible to say where the "line" is. Along the border, at a distance of some forty miles from each other, are the police posts—the outposts of the Empire. Each post is manned in peace time by three or four white troopers, who with the help of native "trackers," enforce the law over immense tracts of lonely country, where roam Bushmen, Hottentots, and Herero.-s. A LONELY CAMP. Nakob is tha name of the important post that lies in the south-west corner of the desert, right on the southern trade route into German territory from Dc Aa>:r and Upington. The lonely camp is typical of many others—just a wood and iron shanty on a sandy flat ;: tent or two, and a native hut. A fev ra'ies over the border there is the German outpost, tfkanias, a well-built camp with telegraphic communication to all parts of the country. Nakob, however, is completely cut off from civilisation. The contrast between the British and German outposts is rather striking. Now Nakob will probably have historic significance, for it was here tint a tiny garrison of eight men. British and Boer, held nut against 300 well armed Germans -non after the war broke out, and kept them at bay till their ammunition was exhausted: then the Germans scored their first success on South African soil.

The next British post from Nakob northward, is fifty miles distant. It rein ices in the mime of Ohobogorop, which being interpreted means, "the hole dug out by the antbear in which water was found." Obnbogorop was also raided by the enemy and a few men there wisely withdrew! Another fifty miles over the sand dunes brings you to lteitfontein, ihe seat of a magistracy. There is no more dreary and lonesome place in the world than Reitfontein. The whole country around is A VERITABLE SKA OK SAND. How the few people settled there .scratch a living out of the sun-scorched sand is a mystery, but they do it somehow. The police troopers ill this district are mounted on camels, for the water holes are far apart, and horses cannot -endure the awful heat like the "ships of the desert." Before the war, the desert camel post ran with the regularity of the mail train. Reitfontein. too, Was taken by the enemy. But it will be seen from'a glance at the map that Reitfontein is in a direct line with Kuruman and Vryburgh, and it is we'll within the realm of possibility that the Union Government may dispatch a force across the desert to come in at Reitfontein. Like other places on the border, this post has recently had the first rain for three years, and the vast spaces of the Kalahari have also been well soaked this season. This will make it easier to cross the desert.

The tsamma melon will be abundant. Thin juicv food is appreciated by man and beast. Tn its raw state it has remarkable thirst-quenching properties, and when cooked it is a very satisfying food. The seeds, too. are oily and fattening. But the desert is a treacherous place. N'ot a year passes without some life being sacrificed on the sand dunes. V mishap, such as the dropping of a water bottle, and the unfortunate trooper ram' meet that horrible fate -death througn thirst.

"While nur men arc lying in rain-sod-den trenches in Flanders, their comrades mnv lio on the Gorman SouthWest hnrdcr. or trekking throne,!, a dry nndltliirsty land where the roiy though of water may thrill them with cajjor anticipation. , !!nt Hun ilm'v will ( ventnally crusn ilu- Germans nohodv dmihls, although :,, th'-v sin-.' "It'-! a loiil'. 'mill way m German South-West, to the field wo unnt In have."