250 An Eight Days' Ramble in Gajpe Colony. 



seemed feasible enough, but it was so girt with tremendous 

 precipices, that we did not like to risk the slippery footing on 

 the smooth, naked granite ;* the other, from the side next to 

 us, was utterly beyond our powers of climbing. Save the hard 

 gray lichens which covered the stone profusely, and a patch or 

 two of some tiny moss in the crevices here and there, not a % 

 shred of vegetable life was visible beyond a certain point ; and 

 the line of demarcation between rock and verdure was very 

 strongly apparent. Just where the latter ended we found 

 some beautiful yellow Oxalidce, and a very lovely white sundew 

 (Drosera trinerva),~\ which was just unfolding its exquisite 

 little flowers. Here, also, were many clumps of the common 

 English chick weed (Stellaria media), an old friend amongst 

 the strangers that grew around. 



In the shallow valley between the two mountain ridges, 

 there were numbers of huge boulders confusedly scattered over 

 the ground, some of which were of such gigantic size as almost 

 to constitute small mountains in themselves. An enormous 

 slice, apparently from the summit of the peak, was resting 

 against one of these great rocks, and the two combined to 

 form a spacious cavern, seemingly almost rain proof, and pos- 

 sessing a hard, smooth flooring of dry earth : we paced this 

 natural apartment, and found it to be about six feet in length, 

 by about four or five in width. It was evidently a place of 

 continued resort, for the walls were inscribed with many names. 

 On our return we were told that this was only one of several 

 caverns which are to be found on the curious mountains. 



The gorge between the two summits was very narrow at 

 first, but it widened rapidly as we advanced, until it opened 

 into an undulating plain at the foot of the mountains on the 

 other side. It was full of trees and broken rocks, and a little 

 stream ran dancing down the descent into the plain I have 

 mentioned. We passed through the narrowest part of the 

 defile, and seated ourselves beside the little brook, whose crystal 

 waters were splashing merrily down the hill-side, between 

 patches of green and luxuriant moss begemmed with wild- 

 flowers of rare beauty, amongst which the exquisite little sun- 

 dew I have mentioned, was most abundant. It was a charming 

 spot, and we appreciated its loveliness to the fullest extent. 

 Behind us rose the enormous and almost naked masses of the 

 mountains, towering upwards in all the pride and majesty of 



* On a subsequent occasion I ascended this peak, and found that the danger 

 was more imaginary than real. The rock is so rough and scored by the weather 

 that it affords tolerably secure footing, and the noble view, obtained from the 

 summit, amply repays one for the climb. 



t I have to thank the colonial botanist, the Rev. Dr. Brown, for his kindness 

 in naming this plant for me. 



