This book provides an integrated, thorough and up-to-date review of the nature and development of the Kalahari environment.

David Thomas, D.D. (1813-1894) congregationalist, was born at Hollybush-Vaston, South Wales. He was educated at Newport Pagnel, now called Chestnut College, in Buckingham. Dr. Thomas entered the Independent Ministry in 1841. From 1845-1874 he was the minister of Stockwell Independent Church in London. His writings, for which he is best known, include a series of homiletical commentaries on Job, Psalms, the Gospels of Matthew and John, and Acts. He was also the respected editor of The Homilist from 1851-1882.

Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. An introduction to the Kalahari; Part I. The Physical Background: 2. Tectonic and geological framework; 3. The Kalahari sediments; 4. Climate, soils and vegetation of the Kalahari; Part II. Geomorphology and Environmental Change: 5. The geomorphology of the Kalahari: rivers and lakes; 6. The geomorphology of the Kalahari: aeolian, pan and rock landforms; 7. The palaeoenvironmental history of the Kalahari; Part III. The Human Factor: 8. The Kalahari in the archaeological record; 9. The Kalahari environment in the 19th and 20th centuries; Appendices; Bibliography.