Tortoises, midnight thieves and keeping time has Prince Albert's Irrigation Board on its toes

Abstract

TOP BAR Two farmers eye-balled each other over the water furrow running alongside the main street of the tiny Karoo town of Prince Albert. This was the 1960s and water to irrigate their smallholdings was scarce. It hadn’t rained for months and the constant trickle of “lei” water from a spring in the Swartberg Mountains was all they could rely on to feed their crops. “You are stealing my water,” accused one brandishing a spade. “This is my water,” spat the other also raising a spade. Defiantly the first man tried to close the furrow into his neighbour’s dam. “T ouch that water and I will stop you with this spade.” The second lunged at his neighbour threatening to knock his knees out from underneath him. A crowd was growing to watch the fight but after a few tense minutes the second farmer closed his furrow and allowed his neighbour to have water. “Now it’s your turn,” he said looking at his watch. The first farmer glared at him. “Y our watch is slow,” he grumbled.

Authors

Categories