46 



bulbs, which retain the vital principle during the dry season, 

 and shoot up into new plants on the return of the rain. 



" The surroundino; niountains are overrun with that sin- 

 gular plant, the Lanaria plumosa, which gives them a hoary 

 aspect, distinguishable at a great distance. They consist of 

 sandstone, the strata of which dip at an angle more or less 

 acute to the eastward. The whole chain, from Hangklip 

 Point, to the extremity of the Karroo, exhibits the same 

 conformation; by which the vallies on the east side of the 

 chain are enriched with numberless streams, while the supply 

 on the opposite side is comparatively scanty. The soil in 

 the valley consists of gravel, cemented by an argillaceous 

 earth. In summer it is as hard as stone, but absorbs 

 moisture greedily, and after a copious fall of rain, becomes 

 penetrable to the plough. 



" As this valley is noted for game, we pitched our tent as 

 soon as the cart arrived, having ag-reed to remain here some 

 days. We had provided ourselves with a canteen, cooking 

 utensils, and liquors. Our sportsmen were to furnish the 

 table with game, and Leroex with the produce of his farm 

 and garden. It was soon remarked, however, by one of our 

 party, who had been here some years before, that the farmer 

 made a most enormous charge for his share of the contribu- 

 tion. Being challenged on the subject, he candidly acknow- 

 ledged it, and stated that he considered his old charges 

 sufficiently high, but that an English sportsman having once 

 stopped for a few days with him, laughed at the modesty of 

 his charge, and paid him double the amount. To avoid 

 being ridiculed by the English, he had from that time 

 modified his prices, with a view to acquire their good opinion. 

 This liberal Englishman proved to be a ship-chandler from 

 Capetown, who had contrived to escape for a week from 

 behind the counter. 



" The chief kinds of feathered game in this valley, are two 

 species of Partridge, the grey and the red-winged, ( Tetrao 

 Afer and capensis,) the Common Snipe, and the Golden Snipe, 

 (Scolopax capensis.) Our sportsmen were much disappointed 

 at the unexpected scarcity of these birds, and more so at the 



