IloUentot— Holland Kloof 110 



horses which were trotting over it, to disengage the grain from 

 the straw. To these succeeded another set, who, avaihng them- 

 selves of a favourable breeze, tossed the broken corn up in the 

 air with long wooden forks, to separate the grain from its impu- 

 rities. This animated scene, on which we dwelt with delight, 

 formed a striking contrast to the early part of our day's 

 journey. 



" There is an inn at the bottom of the Kloof, where we 

 tarried the whole of the next day, to get some repairs done to 

 our travelling cart. On the morning of the 5th, we pursued 

 pur journey ; and, after passing through a turnpike-gate, the 

 only one in the Colony, at which half a rix-dollar is levied on 

 every waggon, we ascended the Kloof. The pass is rugged and 

 abrupt, but might be made comparatively easy by a moderate 

 share of labour, judiciously exerted : and if the public welfare 

 had any influence over those who administer the affairs of 

 the Colony, they would employ a part of the garrison in works 

 of this kind ; instead of letting soldiers out to work in detail, 

 to such individuals as have sufficient interest to procure them 

 for their private use. 



*' The south-east wind blew in impetuous gusts as we as- 

 cended the Kloof; but from the time we gained the summit 

 it became comparatively moderate. It is seldom, indeed, known 

 to blow with much violence beyond the first chain of mountains. 

 The country on the other side is high, barren, and covered with 

 hard rushy plants, among which the genus Restio predominates. 

 A few miles beyond the Kloof, we crossed a branch of the Pal- 

 meit River, and keeping to the left, followed a path recently 

 made over the Nieuberg, which led us to the farm of Stephanus 

 Leroex, where we proposed to halt for some days. This farm 

 is situated in a fine amphitheatre, enclosed on one side by a bend 

 of the great chain of mountains that commences at Hangklip 

 Point, and on the other by the Nieuberg. The area is about 

 ten miles across, and forms a gentle slop from the circumference 

 to the centre, with a smooth verdant surface, regularly undu- 

 lated, and watered by numerous mountain-streamlets, which 

 meet in the middle of the valley, and form the swampy source 

 of the River Sonderend. The channel of this river, as well as 

 its tributary streams, is encumbered with the PcUmiet, a gigan- 



