550 MR. D. DEAFER ON THE GEOLOGT [Nov. 1894, 



The climate of the Terrace is healthy for man and beast ; though 

 the days are very warm in the summer months, the nights are cool 

 and refreshing. The winter is mild, snow seldom falling. 



Numerous rivers flow through this terrace from the Drakensberg, 

 and in consequence it is deeply furrowed. Valleys, reaching down 

 to tbe granite, have been cut out by these streams, especially on the 

 edge of the Terrace eastward ; some of these valleys are 80 miles 

 in length, flanked by spurs of the Drakensberg, 3000 feet high 

 above the valley-level. 



Small forests are dotted over the surface of the Terrace, but upon 

 the whole the country is devoid of timber, except along the edge of 

 the Terrace, where some forests of indigenous pines are found growing 

 in the more sheltered valleys. 



(3) The ' Coast-belt/ lying between the Terrace 

 and the Indian Ocean. 



This belt is from 30 to 60 miles in width and continues all along 

 the coast of Natal, Zululand, and Swaziland. It is generally low- 

 lying and unhealthy, except along the Natal coast, where whites 

 have resided ever since the occupation of the colony. (See PI. XXII.) 



The climate is sub-tropical, that is, extremely hot in summer, and 

 temperate in winter. 



Low rounded hills are the most prominent feature of the land- 

 scape, and along the shore sand-dunes and lagoons are frequently 

 met with. Vegetation grows very luxuriantly, and the country is 

 covered with dense bush. 



II. Geological Features. 



The principal groups of rocks which may be identified in the area 

 under description are the following : — 



(Volcanic rocks. 

 Cave-sandstone. 1-dii.it 



T, ■, -n j \ Probably Jurassic. 



Molteno Beds. j 



( Beaufort Beds. I Probably Triassic. 



Lower Karoo. ■! Ecca Beds. J 



[ Dwyka Conglomerate. Probably Permian, 



f Quartzite of the Gats Band (in 

 the Transvaal). 



■p . i J Malmani Limestone (dolomite). 



Primary rocKs. < [ Bokkeveld Beds> wanting ]. 



j Table-mountain Sandstone. 

 IJMalniesbury Schists. 

 Basement-rocks. Gneiss and Granite. 



I have failed to discover some of the other South African groups, 

 such as the quartzites of the Zuurberg z and the Zwarteberg, though 

 I made search for them over a great portion of the country. 



1 [In the Transvaal this formation is represented by the quartzite of the Gats 

 Band.— T. E. J.] 



