BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 125 



enduring drought as those of a barren, dry, and more 

 depressed tract of country. This is the case with regard to 

 vegetation on the loftier part of Sneewbergen, the Rogge- 

 veld, and the Nieuwefeld Mountains, which have quite a 

 Karroo-like character, similar to the dry and barren country, 

 several thousand feet below; whilst the summit of those 

 mountain chains, like the loftier tops of the Wittebergen and 

 the Stormbergen, are chiefly covered with Graminea. 



Moisture of the atmosphere, modified by the temperature 

 of a climate, exerts a powerful influence on the spontaneous 

 productions of the soil. At many places, on high, elevated 

 regions, underneath a layer of peat, in which heaths and many 

 plants of the same habit grow, may be often traced the same 

 sort of loamy soil which prevails on those barren tracts where 

 only Karroo-like and succulent plants can exist ; may it not, 

 therefore, be conjectured, that if these barren tracts had the 

 same constant humidity of atmosphere as those in a more 

 favourable situation, and shelter from a burning hot sun, 

 there would be a mutual change in the vegetable productions 

 into others, adapted to a moist and cooler climate ? It 

 would require certainly many hundred years ere such a change 

 could be effected, and that a suitable soil, sufficient for the 

 growth of those plants, should be accumulated. 



The land here looked dry and barren, but is nevertheless 

 celebrated for sheep farming, especially the Cape sheep, which 

 thrive much best in a country like this, while the Merino 

 prefers grassy tracts, as Albany, Uitenhage, George, and 

 Zwellendam. The Great Fish River changes its name here 

 to Brack River, which it retains up to the source; the 

 principal trees shading its banks are Acacia Capensis. We 

 crossed that river as soon as it could be done without risk, 

 keeping it, for a short distance, to our left, then advancing in 

 a northerly direction, chiefly over an open but barren Karroo- 

 like country. Several farmhouses at very remote distances were 

 in sight, and seemed to indicate a scarcity of springs of water in 

 that part of the country ; some more depressed tracts were 

 marked by a line of dark green Acacia groves, which receive un- 



