126 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



were detached from the Drackenberg for such a purpose. 

 Its face towards the summit is quite perpendicular, and 

 the rock seems as black as if coated with the corrosion of 

 thousands of years. A striking view of it is to be 

 obtained from the southern extremity ; it then looks 

 like a great organ. The thunders only could be fit 

 music for such an instrument. 



We outspanned just before sunset. It was a truly 

 magnificent evening, with sufficient breeze to stir the air, 

 and enough heat to induce one to seek rest ; around us 

 the grass is brilliantly green, here and there interspersed 

 with that garden favourite, the scarlet-flowering verbena. 

 What memories does not this beautiful little plant recall? 

 every year of your life possibly, but none so vividly as 

 those of childhood ! I can see now in memory our old 

 gardener planting them out in the flower-beds among 

 the aspalia apple-trees. How carefully he handles them ! 

 just observe how gently he takes away the surplus mould 

 from their roots. The flowers are about to start in life, 

 and their father the gardener removes with anxious 

 solicitude all that may militate or impede them in their 

 future existence ! 



But away towards the east there is a scene the like 

 of which I have never viewed before. Higher moun- 

 tains I have gazed on, but they ever were a jumble of 

 gigantic masses, grand in outline and magnitude, but 

 destitute of order. Of these the artist might possibly 

 say, " Hence their beauty." No doubt he thinks so, but 

 to argue the point would not convince him or change 

 me. The mountains I now speak of are three in num- 

 ber, running nearly north and south ; they connect one 

 portion of the Drackenberg with another, but each 

 stands separate and at almost equal distances apart ; 



