1891. ] Their Physical Geography and Ethnology. Z 
which closes it on the south-east side, the side from which come the 
rain-bringing winds. Distinct cyclonic action round a point of 
minimum air pressure and in accordance with the law of gyration 
-of Buys-Ballot is here observable. The winds instead of blowing 
‘from the south-east frequently gyrate from north-west through south 
‘to north-east, sometimes carrying heavy thunderclouds with them. 
Mr. Gamble in one of his papers on the climate of Southern Africa 
mentions these irregular winds which blow north of the Katberg 
-and sweepalong the northern slopes of the Amatola Mountains. He 
-ealls them “return trades’ which considering they are entirely local 
would hardly be a correct appellation. It is due to these winds 
which blow in opposition to the regular South-east trade winds that 
the Kei Basin is sometimes subject to severe droughts. The upper 
terrace is cold in winter. There are heavy night frosts and snow 
falls frequently. The Drakensberg range has been seen covered 
‘with snow as early as March and as late as November. On the 
whole the climate of Kaffraria is exceedingly healthy and pleasant, 
-and well adapted to a European pupulation. 
In intimate relation to the relief of the country and the climate 
with all its local modifications is the fora. The Botanical region 
.to which Kaffraria belongs is the “Tropical African Region.” The 
character of the vegetation is on the whole, like in Natal and the 
Frontier Districts, that of the Steppe. The country is covered to 
‘the very mountain tops with a dense growth of grass of varying 
height. The species of grasses are numerous and are popularly divided 
into “sweet” and “sour” kinds ; the extent covered by the “sour” 
kinds, which are not so nutritious and desirable as pasture, is limited 
to the outer edge of the upper plateau (hence its name Zuurber- 
gen) and patches of land along the foot of the main range. Nearly 
all the principal forest trees and arborescent shrubs of South-Eastern 
Africa exist in Kaffraria. Their distribution is entirely dependent 
-on the relief of the country. The principal forests are found on the 
slopes of the Zuurberg, in the gorges of the outer-edge of the first 
terrace and along the sea coast. In the Drakensberg valleys forests 
are only found inthe most secluded and sheltered nooks and corners. 
In delineating the main elevation of the country and the Zuurberg 
and the inland border of the coast lands on paper, we at the 
same time show the lines on which is found the principal forest 
vegetation. : 
