328 A JOURNEY INTO THE 
lated amidst extensive grassy plains, having, for the most part, thorny 
Acacias amongst its arborescent vegetation, and as there is mention 
made already of a similar hill bearing that name, they may be mis- 
taken sometimes one for the other. We passed, only a short distance 
from that hill, on our way towards the Bloemspruit, a tributary of the 
Falsrivier, and halted over-night on a spot at no great distance from 
the first-mentioned river, which we beheld on our right side the follow- 
ing day, joining it for a while over a fertile-looking, extensive valley, 
in which many of the emigrants had pitched their tents as a temporary 
residence, many of whom we passed that day. The zoological collec- 
tion became increased by several kinds of birds, belonging to the genus 
Cursorius, resembling much in habit and form the true Otis, but much 
smaller, occurring chiefly upon kurroo-like places; they seem to feed 
upon insects, especially upon ants and smaller kinds of beetles. : 
The vegetation along the valley of the Bloemspruit has a different 
appearance to those tracts we had hitherto seen before, and seemed: very 
wholesome for cattle and sheep, and also well adapted for gardening 
and agriculture, the advantage of which attracted and persuaded the 
farmers to remain here. We reached, towards evening, several families 
of emigrants, whose houses were built of stronger materials, close M 
. the junction of the Bloemspruit with the Falsrivier. One of the m- 
habitants here, a Mr. Styn, kept the civil function as a field-cornet over 
_ the emigrants, who lived here about; they were very kind towards us, 
and we remained here for several days, as the rivers were unpassable, 
caused by some heavy thunder-showers. 
The tops of many of the surrounding hills, dispersed in that mode- 
. rately extended valley, were crowned with various kinds of trees, giving 
.. a lively and pleasant appearance to the surrounding country, compared 
. with the vast and dreary regions lying in the rear of us. The contrast 
was striking, to witness the influence of a sheltered situation in an 
_ elevated country like this, with much vegetation. The winter season 
: had commenced already, and was felt very sensibly during night on the 
. more elevated regions. The climate in the more depressed valley here 
. was comparatively milder, and very favourable to the existence of th 
. perfect dicotyledonous orders of plants. ; 
. The channel of the Falsrivier, towards the junction with the Bloem- 
a spruit, lies more than a hundred feet deep, between narrow banks, 
_ barely wooded with shrubs, and although a considerable distance from 
