Vol. 50.] OF SOUTH-EASTERX AFRICA. 549 



native footpaths, attaining an altitude of from 9000 to 

 10,000 feet, and culminating at the peak named by the 

 French missionaries the ' Mont-aux-Sources,' about 11,000 

 feet high. 



Several of the principal rivers of South Africa rise from 

 this peak : the Orange and the Caledon, southern branch 

 of the Vaal, flowing westward, and the Tugela flowing 

 easttt ard. 



(b) The Hill-covered plateau, extending from the Mont-aux- 



Sources northward to the Vaal River. This plateau is about 

 6000 feet above sea-level, and numerous hills, remains of a 

 former range, are scattered about the surface. Several of 

 these hills rise to an altitude of from 8000 to 9000 feet 

 above sea-level. 



(c) The High-veld plateau, extending from the Vaal River north- 



ward to the Klip Stapel and Lake Chrissie. 



It consists of rolling plains, from 6000 to 8000 feet above 

 sea-level, the highest eminence being the Klip Stapel, near 

 Lake Chrissie. The northern branch of the Vaal River rises 

 at this spot. 



The High-veld plateau is devoid of hills ; innumerable 

 small lakes (' pans ') are dotted about its surface, especially 

 in the neighbourhood of Lake Chrissie. 



Both the 'Hill- covered plateau' (6) and the 'High-veld plateau' (c) 

 end abruptly eastward, but slope gradually westward. 



The eastern termination of the plateaux forms the continuation 

 of the Drakensberg range in Xatal and in the South African Republic 

 (Transvaal ). 



The whole of the Drakensberg range and the plateaux are devoid 

 of timber ; they are covered with short grass, forming admirable 

 pasture-land for stock. The climate is healthy, though excessively cold 

 in winter, snow falling frequently and covering the higher mountain- 

 tops. Trees grow well where cultivated, especially the oak and several 

 species of pine. Silicified trunks of trees are very numerous in parts 

 of the High-veld plateau, especially near the town of Harrismith, 

 Orange Free State. They are only found about 5000 feet above 

 sea- level. 



(2) The ( Terrace/ lying along the eastern foot of the 

 Drakensberg. (See PI. XXII.) 



The average height of this terrace above sea-level is about 

 4000 feet, and it stretches for about 80 to 100 miles from the 

 Drakensberg range towards the coast. 



Numerous spurs of the main range and detached hills (outliers) 

 have survived the general destruction of the great plateau, which, 

 judging from these hills, must have extended beyond the limit of 

 the terrace eastward. This terrace terminates somewhat abruptly 

 towards the coast, where it forms an escarpment from 2000 to 3000 

 feet high, at the foot of which lies the Coast-belt. 



2q2 



