352 



to the Swakop, and appropriately named " Dorstrivier "— the 

 Acacias begin to be predominant, but as yet they are represented by 

 small shrubs, whose appearance suggests that the conditions of 

 life are almost more than they can bear. In the dried up water- 

 channels at least one species, probably A. giraffa% attains the 

 form and dimensions of a tree. The small Blepharis still 

 persists as does also a yellow-flowered Capparid ( ? Cleome sp.), 

 which is one of the ornamental plants of the eastern Namib. From 

 Kubas, whose station-house is built of marble, a short branch line 

 to the west communicates with a water-hole in the bed of one of 

 the Swakop tributaries, whence supplies for the engines are 

 obtained. Here, while the vegetation is distinctly richer both in 

 species and in individuals, there are still considerable areas of 

 absolutely bare ground, and the few, small trees are almost 

 confined to the dry water-channels. Aloe dichotoma is planted in 

 ront of the station and no doubt occurs wild in the neighbour- 

 hood. I he bushy Euphorbia was not seen north of this point. 

 \pnrple-flowered Acant nacea and an Amarantacea, both of 

 wmch become more common beyond Karibib were here seen 

 tor the first time. Tribalus sp., Commiphora saxicola, and 

 perfiaps a second species were also recognised. Between 

 i^ubas and Karibib many specimens of a remarkable Oissus 

 (C. Cramenanus, Schinz), are visible from the train; they 

 possess stout erect stems with fleshy leaves and flourish among 

 the rocks at the bases of the hills. Associated with them 

 are the dwarf shrubby Euphorbia Marlothii, Pax, many grasses, 

 Tml llT ^ Acacmhebeclada, DC, and other species of the 

 oZ aZ ' J h f hlllS are now covered to ^e tops with an 

 ZZtZ ^ h v eX °?V Vhere a11 the loose surface, often over 



S/w nf ShP P! d d ° Wn from the hill * ides leavin g steep 

 glaus bare of vegetation. The flora graduallv becomes more 



toTe left behind! 7 P **"*" f ormation ™y be considered 



bank^of n t a h r1 / ^ Sti ^ ted t r nsition zone * crossed on the west 



PredomLnop 3 ^ n ? r fl betWeen R5ssin ^ and Usak ° 3 ' The 

 alra^ Wn n ° ft f f , tb f leafl ^. Euphorbia over large areas has 



form Tl ;S»S ni ding /" toteracantha, Buivh., (at first in the 

 Z tClt^ n Pr ° St ? te bush >' increase in importance 

 spTcTi or the I™ Co ™ mphom mxicola and either another 

 toward Usakos OtL7t fi ^ F° Wth is frequently seen 

 Leguminos I? L shrub f are a *W*»m and an unidentified 



*B)fa gfMuaflv'incZ !" ***\ W ^ graSSeS ^'^ 

 the yellow-flowpr^i n lncreasin g numbers, the small Blepharis, 



mentioned JZ Zti °f P **"? and the a c a ulesent Aloe before 



from SwTwltd atl TV* Planted round a sfcation 110kms - 

 seen in the Knl , l^ hat a PP eared to be wild specimens were 



that most of fee Rt °,r e ^ ° f the railwa y- ** noteworthy 

 distinguished n hwt betw „ een Rossing and Usakos are 



appear to be absent ll ™T? ° f ViIla ^ es or settlements-which 

 kilometres which ^L!." 1 hlS re & io n-but by the number of 

 parison of the two X T e ? from Swakopmund. A com- 



6 **° J° urn eys~Jakalswater to Karibib and Rossing 



