322 BOTANICAL. INFORMATION. 



by detached, flat-topped, sandstone hills, leaving openings 

 through which we entered into other plains, till we reached 

 the main route again, leading from the Caledon River to- 

 wards the interior. The heat was very great about noon that 

 day; in consequence, we experienced a heavy shower of 

 rain ; we proceeded on our journey during the most frightful 

 crashes of thunder, till we were stopped at the foot of a little 

 steep hill ; the ground being too slippery for our oxen to 

 bring the waggons up. We were detained here for another 

 two days, the showers of rain falling incessantly ; and after 

 we went on again, we were surprized by other showers, 

 which inundated for some time the level plain in a moment, 

 and we had to wade often to our knees through the water 

 along the route. 



We passed a small river, a tributary of the Caledon, 

 called the Wilgespuiht; the name is evidently given by 

 Dutch emigrants of late years, who choose to travel over this 

 tract; and on account of the many waggons of the emigrants 

 which have travelled since that route, it is already as wide 

 and open as the main routes within the colony. The country 

 assumed an uniform and dreary aspect, the more we ad- 

 vanced gradually towards a more elevated region ; its scenery, 

 as well as its vegetation, presenting for miles, nearly the same 

 things and objects in repetition. There is scarcely any bush 

 or tree, except at the side of precipices on those hills with 

 flat-topped summits, where the dark-looking evergreen, 

 Olea (?) seems to be purposely called into existence, to con- 

 ceal the dreary disagreeableness of the barren, rufous-looking 

 sandstone rocks. The most extensive orders of plants 

 prevailing about these regions are the Graminea, undoubtedly, 

 with regard to the number of individuals; they became, 

 however, more scarce as we went on, in comparison with 

 the neighbourhood of the Caledon River. The increasing 

 elevation of the country causes most likely that change, 

 as also the great numbers of small and large game occupying 

 the hills and dales of that undulated rugged tract ; and which 



