IN SOUTH AFRICA. 39 
NOTES TO CHAPTER III. 
(A) It may be well here to explain the meaning of those local terms which 
occur most frequently in a narrative of any tour in the Cape colony. 
Kloof, is generally applied to a mountain pass, a ravine, or narrow lateral 
valley among mountains ; the “ Long Kloof” is the only instance that I know 
where it is given to a longitudinal valley. 
Kraal, is properly an enclosure for cattle, answering to the Spanish and 
Portugueze word corra! ; it is commonly applied to the villages or settlements 
of the natives. 
Hoek, a corner ; land enclosed in the bend of a river, or between a river 
and the sea, or between two converging ranges of mountains. 
Drift, a ford. 
Kranz, a cliff or precipice. 
Kop, a head or peak. 
(B) When I returned to the Cape in June, some beautiful plants were in 
blossom on the mountains of Hottentot Holland and Houw-Hoek ; in particu- 
lar, Protea longifolia, P. Lepidocarpon, P. tenuifolia, Serruria clavata, a short- 
leaved variety of Erica Plukenetii, with very rich coloured blossoms, Septas 
Capensis (in great profusion), and Peyin. Seier apn chu and 
Zeyher.) 
(C) This arborescent fern is Hemitelia Capensis, the largest ind most idm: 
tiful fern that is known in the Cape colony, though inferior in size to several 
of the South American and Indian species, as it does not exceed the height of 
twelve feet. It is not peculiar to Zwellendam (though that was the first place 
where I saw it), but grows also in some of the ravines on the eastern side of 
Table Mountain, and I believe in other places. ; 
Besides tbis I gathered near Zwellendam, Weinmannia trifoliata, eae 
lena neriifolia De C., Knowltonia rigida, Erica Caledonica Benth,, Hydrocotyle 
calliodus De C., Helichrysum parviflorum De C., Osteospermum triquetrum De C., 
and a singular species of Muraltia, which appears to be undescribed ; but the 
Season was nearly the most unfavourable of the whole year for botanjes!: 
pursuits, i 
(D) I bilis: that this plant is the doe fees of Hewes or vu kihon, 
but the accounts which have hitherto been published of the larger species of 
this genus are very unsatisfactory; they have been taken from cultivated 
plants, and accordingly importance is often attached to circumstances which 
are seen to be insignificant when we come to examine the plants in a state of 
nature. Thus, all the writers who have distinguished 44/oe feror as a species, 
have laid much stress on the presence of prickles on bath sides of its leaf ; 
but this is an extremely variable character; in the wild plant, prickles are 
Sometimes (not very often) found on both sides of the foliage, more frequently — 
on the under surface only, and very often at the margin only. The edges are 
always prickly, but the prickles vary in direction even on the same leaf, = 
The stem is thick, rarely branched; the outline of the leaves nearly lanceo- 
cee their colour pecus their direction — not recurved ; mcm 
