128 BOTANICAL INFORMATION*. 



which would not be a remedy against the painful sensation of 

 the teeth. 



On account of the level appearance of our station, the 

 country looked not much elevated ; but comparing this table- 

 land with other ascertained neighbouring heights, we must be 

 at an altitude of not less than 5000 feet above the level of 

 the sea ; being the highest part, drawing lines of longitude or 

 meridian from the Orange River to the southern sea-shores ; 

 its longitude being, to the nearest, 26° E., and 31° 30' S. 

 lat. The Great Drakaberg mountain chain marks a con- 

 tinuous line through the interior of South Africa, from 

 beyond the Zoolu country, in a south-westerly direction ; it 

 assumes the name of Stormbergen when entering the Tam- 

 buki country, of which it forms the northern boundary. The 

 latter mountain chain rises to 6000 feet, being abrupt towards 

 the Tambuki country, and sloping moderately towards the 

 Orange River. It is continued at the north-eastern boundary 

 by the Bambusbergen, of which the Zuureberg may be con- 

 sidered a principal spur, projecting thence, in a north-westerly 

 direction, for a considerable distance towards the Winterveld. 

 But, in fact, this high table land may be traced to the western 

 end of the Roggeveld, running nearly parallel with the course 

 of the Orange River, and sending its waters, to the north, 

 into the Orange River, and south, to the southern sea-shores. 

 The climate here, like that of the Sneewberg, Nieuweveld, 

 and Roggeveld, is very cold in the winter, and sometimes 

 the ground is covered for several days and weeks with snow. 

 The country is well peopled, by reason of the permanent 

 pasturage, attributable to a cool and moist atmosphere. 

 Many hills are scattered over this high table-land, the greater 

 part exhibiting horizontal strata of a reddish sandstone, so 

 characteristic a formation of an extensive tract of country here. 

 The land has a reddish and naked appearance, scarcely a bush 

 can be seen ; a few shrubs of some Leguminosce, Rhus serra- 

 folia, Burch., and a few Composite, grow upon rocky situa- 

 tions; but the Graminea form the principal part of the Flora; 

 and among them, some sorts of herbaceous plants, of the 



