270 RELATION OP FORESTS TO THE 



paratively a copious humidity of soil and climate ; while in the 

 districts in which there are none, the soil and the climate are com. 

 paratively dry. There have been described by Livingstone three 

 distinct meteorological zones in South Africa : the eastern, compre- 

 hending Zulu-land, Natal, Independent and British Kaffraria ; the 

 central, comprising a portion of the elevated Central Basin of the 

 continent, and divided from the eastern by the Drakenberg, Malutis, 

 and other ranges ; and the western, including the Kal^h^ri Proper, 

 the wastes of Namaqualand, and^ the wilds of Bushmanland — the 

 latter, situated to the south of the Orange Eiver. 



The first of these is comparatively well watered, and there we find 

 extensive districts covered with ever-green succulent arborescent 

 herbs, and most of the extensive forests. In the second we find 

 comparatively little water, and forests disappearing. The third is 

 arid and sterile and barren in the extreme. 



I have had occasion to cite the statement that " the prevalent 

 winds of most of the country thus divided are from the northeast. 

 Heavily laden with vapour from the Indian Ocean, the clouds, under 

 the influence of these easterly currents, are driven over the Zulu 

 territory. Natal, and Kafiirland, watering those lands luxuriantly; but 

 when the moisture-bearing nimbi arrive at the peaks of the mountain 

 I ranges, not only have they parted with a large proportion of their 

 water, but they are then on the edge of the more arid central basin, 

 and begin to meet with the influences of the heated and naked plains, 

 under the radiation from the surface of which, and in an increasing 

 degree as the Bechuana tribes are past and the K^UhAri is reached, 

 the clouds rise higher above the earth, the moisture evaporates in a 

 thinner vapour, and as a consequence fewer showers fall upon the hot 

 thirsty soil beneath. 



"The further we journey from the Drakensberg eastwards, the 

 greater becomes the diminution of water. 



" Leaving the mountains, the Lesuto or Basuto land, as it is called, 

 is without doubt the best watered portion of the central meteoro- 

 logical district, mainly, it is presumed, on account its being intersected 

 by the Malutis range. Towards this important section of country, 

 from November to April, the northeast winds blow from the shores 

 of Mozambique and the delta of the Zambesi immense masses of 

 cloud, which sweep heavily over the earth, darkening the sky, and 

 preceded in their course by dreadful peals of thunder. On reaching 

 the high land, the aerial lake is shut in by the huge table-headed 

 mountains ; as a consequence, a rapid condensation takes place, and 



