IN SOUTH AFRICA. 21 
proached the very picturesque range of the Zwellendam 
Mountains, which, furrowed with deep ravines and serrated 
with crags, rose in great majesty on the north. This chain, 
branching off from the great cluster of mountains near Wor- 
cester, and running at first S.E., takes a more easterly direc- 
tion near the village of Zwellendam, and is continued under 
various names through the whole length of this district and 
that of George. It is separated.by the valley of the Breede 
River from the mountains mentioned in the preceding page, 
which terminate near the confluence of that river with the 
Zonder-einde. 
The village of Zwellendam, which stands just at the foot of 
the aforesaid mountains, is remarkably neat and pretty, com- 
posed of well-built white cottages, which are not crowded 
into a street, but stand far apart, among trim gardens, 
orchards, and groves of trees; so that though the popula- 
tion (as I was informed) does not exceed 2,100, the village 
extends above a mile in length. Here we were hospitably 
entertained by Mr. Rivers, the Civil Commissioner of the 
district. From Linde's to Zwellendam, is a nine hours’ jour- 
ney by horse-waggon, and may thence be estimated at 45 
miles, 
March 25.—As the 25th was Sunday, we remained quiet 
at Zwellendam, and I believe the whole party were glad of a 
day of rest; I am sure I was. After making up my journal, 
which had fallen into arrear, I walked out towards the moun- 
tains to botanize, and though, on account of the drought, I 
did not find many plants in flower, I had a very enjoyable 
ramble. Ascending the course of a clear stream, which 
flowed through a quiet little green valley (really green), I pre- 
sently entered one of the wooded ravines of the mountains, 
where the vegetation was far more luxuriant than I had yet 
seen it in this colony, and even partook in some degree of a 
tropical character. A beautiful arborescent fern (Note C) put 
me in mind of Brazil. The stream, which flowed through | 
this glen, was of that bright amber brown colour which one 
sees in the mountain rivulets of Scotland and Ireland, and 
