104 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 



A much more drastic illustration of the protective influence of the 

 vegetation was given, however, last year, when on the 13th and 14th 

 of December a mountain fire destroyed the grass and bushes in the 

 kloof from which their supply is drawn, and when three days later 

 the stream had dwindled down to such an extent, that it could not 

 produce more than 20 horse-power. 



Even if one should not sufficiently realise the moisture-catching 

 effect of the vegetation, its protective function and preserving influ- 

 ence on the water supply of the mountains cannot be over-estimated, 

 and I trust that the authorities as well as private owners may 

 recognise, more readily than is being done at present, the import- 

 ance of preserving and even nursing the plant covering of our 

 mountains. 



Eecoed of South-East Clouds on the Zwartebergen, as 

 seen from the village of prince albert. 



By John H. Whaits. 



1903. 





1903. 





1904. 





October 1 



Morning 



December 1 



Evening 



January 30 



All day 



2 



Afternoon 



3 





31 



j i 



3 



All day 



5 days absent 









4 

 5 



Morning 



>> 



11 



17 



Evening 



ii 



February 1 



7 



ii 



11 



Evening 



5 days absent 





8 days absent 

 16 



ii 



13 



> > 



24 



Evening 



All day 



14 



Morning 



25 



»> 



17 



17 



j> 



6 days absent 





18 



> > 



20 

 3 days absent 



All day 



Morning- 

 Evening 







20 

 21 

 22 

 23 



24 



1 1 

 Evening 

 Morning 

 All day 



24 



28 



1904. 



5 days absent 















November 7 



Aft. & evn. 



January 1 



Evening 



25 



26 





8 



Morning 



2 



ii 



27 





11 



Evening 



3 



All day 



28 





12 



All day 



4 



Evening 



29 





13 



>> 



5 



ii 







14 



n 



6 



ii 







15 



Morning 



7 



ii 



March 1 



All day 



16 



All day 



12 



Aft. & evn. 



2 





19 



Aft. & evn. 



6 days absent 





3 





21 



Evening 



21 



Evening 



4 





22 



All day 



22 





7 





23 



Aft. & evn. 



25 





8 





24 



ii 



26 





12 





25 



All day 



27 





13 





30 



Aft. & evn. 



28 





15 





In order to show over what a large portion of South Africa the 

 influence of the south-east clouds asserts itself, I give a list of 



