The " Karroos " of South Africa. 23 1 



hearty and healthy, and their indurated hands were the best 

 diploma of their industry. The youngest son said a short 

 prayer ; after which venison, potatoes, mutton, vegetables, 

 bread, butter, and cheese were set down in huge dishes, besides 

 which two bottles of Cape wine, of their own manufacture, 

 went the round of the table. Although this place had been only 

 settled four years previously, an immense deal had been already 

 accomplished by this stirring, cheerful family to make the soil 

 thoroughly productive, and render the house habitable. Even a 

 small garden had been laid out in front of the dwelling- 

 house. 



The chief article of cultivation in the valley is the grape, 

 for wine manufacture, which must in this place return a very 

 handsome profit. 



From Renden to Genaaden Dal is a four-hours' journey. 

 The road passes by Donker's Hoek, a tolerably high mountain, 

 to ascend the summit of which cost our horses some strenuous 

 exertion, although we marched a considerable distance on foot. 

 A wide belt of sandstone formation presented a marvellous dis- 

 play of flowers, and gave us in little an idea of the South 

 African Karroos, a series of terraced clay-patches, estimated at 

 from 3000 to 4000 feet high, which, hard and steppe-like in 

 the dry season, are speedily transformed in the rainy season 

 into smiling, flower-bespangled plains, quite sponge-like under 

 foot, and rich in alkaline products,* We advanced some six 



* The English appellation " Karroo " seems to be derived from Karusa, signifying 

 " hard " in the Hottentot language, and to refer to a quahty appertaining to the 



