BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 813 



Botanical Notes on a Journey into the interior of Southern 

 Africa, in company with Mr. Burke; by Charles L. 

 Zeyher. 



( Continued from p. 134.) 



We proceeded on our journey the next day towards the 

 Caledon River, from which we were scarcely seven or eight 

 miles distant. We passed several stationary parties of 

 Dutch emigrants, of whom a considerable body occupied 

 that peninsula between the Orange and the Caledon Rivers, 

 and also the banks of both rivers. Although the banks of 

 the Caledon River are shaded by large willow trees, (of Salix 

 Gariepina, Burch., if I am right) they are scarcely visible 

 from the level ground near to the river, on account of a 

 narrow embankment, more than fifty feet high. As the 

 plains, through which that river runs, are chiefly composed 

 °f a rich alluvial soil, in many places of a considerable 

 depth, it is evident that the water, during a length of time, 

 has cut so deep a gulf down in that soil; which is the 

 raore probable, when we consider the rapidity of its current. 

 We intended to ford that river the same day, immediately 

 after our arrival, but we were much disappointed, finding 

 ^ in such a high state, that it would have proved fatal, if 

 w e had attempted to cross it, on account of the strong 

 and rapid current, and the rocky nature of its bed or 

 bottom ; large masses of rocks were lying on both sides, 

 which could not be seen on account of the muddy colour of 

 the water, between which the waggons have to pass to 

 the opposite side. We determined for that reason to wait 

 ' or a better opportunity; the weather seemed favourable, 

 and no rain had fallen since the last two days, so that we 

 expected the river to be much lower again the next day. On 

 account of want of experience, as to the great distance of 

 the first sources of that river, running for a great length 



,ts course through a very mountainous country, where a 

 great quantity of water is soon collected in its channel during 



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