358 Annals of the South African Museum. 



those which lie between Raman's Drift and Gri'indoorn appear to 

 belong more or less distinctly to the Kalahari region. Griindoorn, 

 Sabiesis, Holoog, Gawachab, Seeheim, and Gobas are within or on 

 the flanks of the Karasberg.* Keetmanshoep lies on the Kalahari 

 Plateau. From Sandverhaar westwards to Angra Pequena (Liideritz- 

 bucht) the vegetation has affinity with that of Little Namaqualand, 

 but from G-oraf to the sea this relationship is modified by the intense 

 desert conditions of the Namib. Where there is a great development 

 of sand, as at Sandverhaar itself, incursions of Kalahari elements are 

 met with. Elevation appears to determine the local prevalence of 

 Composites, as at Schakalskuppe, and of shrubby Mesembryanthema, 

 as at Aus. All these localities (except, perhaps, Keetmanshoep) lie 

 to the south of the northern limit of the area characterised by the 

 abundance of succulents, and should probably be included with Little 

 Namaqualand in one botanical region. The formal establishment of 

 such a region is, however, not desirable until we know more of the very 

 difficult country which lies between the Orange River, the southern 

 course of the Great Fish River, and the Angra Pequena-Seeheim 

 railway line. Consequently the distinction between Great Namaqua- 

 land and Little Namaqualand is still retained, although it is admitted 

 to l>e immaterial. 



In the following summary that part of Little Namaqualand known 

 as the Richtersveld is separated from the rest of that region. This 

 area includes the country lying to the south of the Orange River and 

 near its mouth. Its southern and eastern boundaries are indefinite, 

 but for practical purposes it may be regarded as including all the 

 mountainous country shown on Sheets 127 E, 127 F of the Recon- 

 naissance Maps of the British War Office (scale 2-5oVoo> J UiV > 1907). 

 The greater part of the Richtersveld is an arid, trackless mountain- 

 complex. Its botany is very imperfectly known, but it includes a 

 number of apparently endemic species. The Richtersveld, together 

 with an area to the North of the river, when more thoroughly 

 explored, will probably rank at least as a distinct province of Little 

 Namaqualand. 



Another area, here included in Little Namaqualand, deserves 

 mention. This is the arid plain, known locally as the Knechtsvlakte, 

 which extends northwards from Van Ryn's Dorp to Nieuwerust. 

 Geologically, its structure is remarkable and somewhat obscure. t Its 



* See Ann. Bolus Herbarium, vol. i. 



t Rogers, A. W., An Introduction to the Geology of Cape Colony, 1909, 

 pp. 52-54. 



