46 
bulbs, which retain the vital principle during the dry season, 
and shoot up into new plants on the return of the rain. 
«The surrounding mountains are overrun with that sin- 
gular plant, the Lanaria plumosa, which gives them a hoary 
aspect, distinguishable at a great distance. "They consist of 
sandstone, the strata of which dip at an angle more or less 
acute to the eastward. The whole chain, from Hangklip 
Point, to the extremity of the Karroo, exhibits the same 
conformation; by which the vallies on the east side of the 
chain are enriched with numberless streams, while the supply 
on the opposite side is comparatively scanty. The soil in 
the valley consists of gravel, cemented by an argillaceous 
earth. In summer it is as hard as stone, but absorbs 
moisture greedily, and after a copious fall of rain, becomes 
penetrable to the plough. 
* As this valley is noted for game, we pitched our tent as 
soon as the cart arrived, having agreed to remain here some 
days. We had provided ourselves with a canteen, cooking 
utensils, and liquors. Our sportsmen were to furnish the 
table with game, and Leroex with the produce of his farm 
and garden. It was soon remarked, however, by one of our 
party, who had been here some years before, that the farmer 
made a most enormous charge for his share of the contribu- 
tion. Being challenged on the subject, he candidly acknow- 
ledged it, and stated that he considered his old charges 
sufficiently high, but that an English sportsman having once 
stopped for a few days with him, laughed at the modesty of 
his charge, and paid him double the amount. To avoid 
being ridiculed by the English, he had from that time 
modified his prices, with a view to acquire their good opinion. 
This liberal Englishman proved to be a ship-chandler from 
Capetown, who had contrived to escape for a week from 
** The chief kinds of feathered game in this valley, are two 
species of Partridge, the grey and the red-winged, ( Tetrao 
Afer and capensis,) the Common Snipe, and the Golden Snipe, 
(Scolopax capensis.) Our sportsmen were much disappointed 
at the unexpected scarcity of these birds, and more so at the 
