264 J. w. BEws. 



is fully exposed to the rain-bearing clouds from the Indian 

 Ocean. A high plateau rises immediately behind it, and the 

 loAver spurs of the Drakensberg approach nearer to the sea 

 at this point than anywhere else. Umzinto, on the other 

 hand, is a few miles inland, and is sheltered behind the 

 first range of hills. Under these circumstances it is not 

 surprising to find that Port Shepstone has the higher 

 rainfall. 



On the second terrace similar eifects are seen. Richmond 

 has a higher rainfall than Maritzburg. Behind Richmond 

 the Byrne range rises for at least another 1000 ft., and the 

 rainfall in front of this range, i.e. in the Richmond district, 

 is naturally fairly high. Maritzburg, on the other hand, lies 

 in a valley, and is surrounded by hills. It misses a good 

 deal of the rain which the hills surrounding it receive. 

 Greytown has just about the same rainfall as Maritzburg. 

 It also lies in a hollow at the end of the Blinkwater range 

 and in front of the third terrace. It is a place where 

 thunderstorms are frequent. It marks the boundary between 

 the Thorn Veld of the lower valley levels and the Close Bush 

 of the higher levels. 



Howick, Estcourt, Newcastle and Dundee represent the 

 third terrace and do not call for any special remark. 



Most instructive of all is a comparison of Weenen and 

 Qudeni. Weenen is typical of the deeply cut, dry, hot 

 river valleys — the region of the Thorn Veld. Qudeni is at a 

 high altitude and is covered Avith dense forests. The average 

 annual rainfall of Qudeni is about twice that of Weenen. 



