GEORGE TOWN. 325 



of incessant struggle with the oxen, the Hottentots 

 succeeded in overcoming every difficulty, without 

 our waggon sustaining any material damage. We 

 uitspanned for the night at a spot formerly the resi- 

 dence and property of the late Captain Harding, but 

 now belonging to the Veld-Cornet Reinsberg, from 

 whence we had a delightful view of the village of 

 George, with the ocean in the distance. 



There is here an immense forest, which extends to- 

 wards the Rayman's River, where Le Vaillant formed 

 his encampment, and added so considerably to his 

 collection of Natural History. George Town, which 

 we passed through on the succeeding day, is plea- 

 santly situated on an extensive plain at the base of 

 the Cradock's Mountain, seven miles from the sea- 

 coast. It contains a population of about seven hun- 

 dred inhabitants, including people of colour. There 

 are eighty houses with gardens adjoining, a church, 

 and two public schools. The environs afford good 

 dasturage for cattle throughout the year, the soil 

 being constantly moist from its vicinity to the coast, 

 and the heat of summer generally mitigated by 

 a gentle sea-breeze. The government forests com- 

 mence about a mile from the town, extending along 

 a vast chain of mountains to the Zeitskamma. The 

 principal support of the inhabitants is derived from 

 felling timber in these forests, which they convey in 

 waggons to the adjacent villages, and frequently to 

 Cape Town. 



