INTERIOR OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. 333 
Hatting, a respectable old man, with whom I have been very well ac- 
quainted since the time when he lived in the Tarka (district of Cradock), 
where he was a farmer, and a man of large landed property. ~The settlers 
lived peacefully there until the Kaffir war broke out, when they were 
very much harassed by their thievish neighbours, and were finally com- 
pelled to sell their property and follow the current of emigration. 
Leaving that good-hearted people, whose houses were erected close to 
the banks of the Rhinoster River, the route led us chiefly over a country 
of detached hills, having on our right hand at no great distance a con- 
siderable high range of mountains, of a reddish and naked appearance, 
running parallel with the route. The Vaal River, or Likwa, which we 
reached towards dark in the evening after travelling fifteen miles, has 
forced its way through that mountain range, and enters just here at 
our station into extensive plains, running for a short distance first 
towards west through moderate hills, turning afterwards south-west, 
when it flows through extensive grassy plains. 
There were many new things, not observed before, amongst the ve- 
getable productions towards the vicinity of the Vaal River, but several 
Were already decayed, or killed by the frosty nights during the winter 
Season. Some species of plants, however, growing in sheltered places, 
offered still flowering specimens ; likewise a fruticose Hibiscus, No. 92, 
with yellow flowers; a creeping Hermannia, No. 120; Acacia hebe- 
clada, Benth., No. 509, having full-grown seed-pods; Cephalandra, 
No. 580; Helichrysum, No. 875; Aptosimum? No. 1317; Barleria 
obtusa, N. ab E., No. 1415 ; Gnidia? No. 1490 ; Tragia Capensis, No. 
1528; Androcymbium? No. 1711; Ornithogalum, No. 1684, ete. etc. 
These plants were growing chiefly on rocky places along the sheltered 
banks of the Vaal River; but the grassy neighbouring plains showed 
nothing but a dreary brownish colour as far as the eyes could reach. 
Ás a warm and moist atmosphere is so very essential to the luxuriant 
growth of the genuine Graminee, and the rainy season over a vast re- 
gion within the interior of South Africa occurs during the summer — 
months, there is sufficient reason for the dry appearance of a grass-like 
vegetation during the dry winter. ; 
It was pleasing, and showed a great contrast against the dreary 
neighbouring plains, to see the banks of the Vaal River bordered by 
many evergreen shrubs and trees. Its waters, which are running 
through the whole year, and were of a lucid transparency during the 
