646. BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 
due to the circumstance of the plants being taken up while — 
in bloom. Thus, the tubers of these Oxalides are not matured, —— 
and I fear they will perish. Such plants should be removed 
in a dormant state. Punyer had the good fortune to catch 
two hares, a welcome addition to our food, after the loss 
of all our meat. 
We were detained two days by the swollen state of the 
Berg River and spent the time in trying to purchase provi- 
sions for the journey, which we found it difficult to do, 
from the prevailing dread of small-pox. One lean sheep and 
a few loaves of bread were all we could procure. The oxen 
gave us much trouble by straying and wandering into the 
neighbouring farms, where they were detained by the owners —— 
for payment of pretended damages. An English settler and " 
his family were also waiting to cross the river; he had been — 
on his way to Cape Town to purchase goods, but the report - 
of small pox arrested him, and he now only desired to get 
safe back to Sneuberg, and we were happily enabled to give 
mutual aid, and all of us got over the Berg River on the 29th, - 
and to the Outspan place at Koopman’s River on the 30th. 4 
The afternoon of the 31st was spent at that interesting — 
ravine, called the Neu Kloof. It is about a mile long, with — 
lofty mountains on either side, and the Little Berg River 
winding through the bottom. The rocks are covered with 
shrubs and flowers; I noticed several Proteas, numerous Spe" — 
cies of Aloe, Mesembryanthemum, Helichrysum and Oxalis, Hal- y 
leria lucida, Richardia, and many other striking plants. The 
way through the Kloof, is dreadfully rough and our poor 
oxen found it hard work to get the waggon over the enor- 
mous stones. A toll of nine-pence was demanded for keepins 
the Kloof in repair, which I am confident must be all profit, 
for not a trace of human workmanship can be descried. Such 
is the fear of small-pox, that the toll-keeper would not come 
to take the money, but requested me to lay it on the grount» 
and we had lost sight of the place before he had ventur' 
to emerge and pick it up. Slowly proceeding for the next 
two days, we came to Breede River, weary and half-famis! 
