210 Report 8. A. A. Advancement of Science. 



waterfalls with whicli are associated masses of Arnndiuaria tesselata, 

 Munro. 



After four days a move was made to reaeli Ben McDhui, a peak 

 of the Wittebergen, twenty miles due west, believed to be tlie liighest 

 mountain in Cape Colon}' (altitude about 10,000 ft.). It is locally 

 known as "Kapok berg" (Snow Mountain), and is said to have snow 

 on it for six months in the year. Skirting along the base of tlie peaks, 

 masses of Kniphojia Tijsonil, K. a/i/oides and K. citrina formed bright 

 patches of colour in swampy places, and in ascending Ben McDhui 

 the grand Kiiipho/ia Xorthiae formed a conspicuous feature in the 

 landscape. The vegetation on Ben McDhui is much the same as on 

 Doodman's Krans. The species of Eamorphia were absent. The most 

 interesting find was Guthriea capensis, Bolus, previously only known 

 from the Gi-aalF-Reinet mountains. On the eastern shoulder of Ben 

 McDhui, at an altitude of about 9400 ft., Anthistiria imberbis, Retz, 

 which was not met with at any other spot on the highlands, has 

 possession of the veld. From Ben McDhui, travelling north-east, the 

 gorge formed by the Buffalo River in Basutoland was visited. Mag- 

 nificent scenery with spendid waterfalls (one of which is 600 ft. high) 

 was met with. Dense jungles of "Oude bosch " (Leucosidea sericea), 

 strongly spinecl species of Asparagus, Arc, made ti'avelling very difii- 

 cult Amongst the plants collected was Bojeria 2'hodei, Bolus, grow- 

 ing plentifully in the river-bed, a virgate shrub with whitish flowers 

 having the aspect of a Vernouia. Travelling in a north-easterly 

 direction the summit of the Drakensberg was reached again, and 

 .Satsanna Berg (alt. about 9550 ft.) explored. This is due north of 

 Doodman's Krans. Fields of Bromus Jirmior, Stapf, a handsome grass 

 2if to 3 ft. high were met with. The peak itself afibrded nothing of 

 special botanical interest. The return was begun on 19th Mjirch 

 down the Tsitsa footpatli to Maclear. 



In Dr. Bolus' able paper on the ''Floral Regions of South Africa," 

 the Drakensbergen are included in the Kalahari region. He adds, 

 howevei-, a note stating that the higher eastern mountain country, 

 forming parts of the Cape Colony, Natal and Basutoland, with an 

 altitude higher than 3500 or 4500 ft., will probably hereafter require 

 separation as a region or province. For tliis latter view much can be 

 said, but, pending such separation, 1 am of opinioji that its afiiinties 

 are rather with the soutli-eastern coast region than with the Kalahari 

 region. There is a distinct break between the mountain fiora and that 

 of the inland plains forming the Kalahari region ; whilst in ascending 

 the mountains from the coast no distinct line of demarcation can be 

 drawn. Coastal foit^st trees, such as l*()d(>c<irj>H.s llni.tdxu-iju. Hook., 

 aie fountl at an altitude of neai-ly 6000 ft., and the profusion of 

 Orchideae and Irideae on the ver}' high(;st slopes, as well as the 

 abundant rainfall, appear to me to point to a relationship with the 

 east coast rather than with the Kalahari n^gion. Of the 140 species 

 of Orrhidf'/ie mentioned as occurring in the latter region, I think it 

 will be found that a larg(! portion of them are from the mountain 

 country mentiojied above, and the Inghlands around Bai-berton. 



