76 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
water in these lakes, leaves the saline particles 
encrusted along their edges, which are then 
gathered and stored ; and thus form a leading 
article of trade in this, as likewise in other 
parts of the country, where these lakes or 
" salt-pans" as they are styled, are situated. 
The large and extensive forest of the Knysna, 
also growing in this division, provides the colo- 
nial markets with a plentiful supply of excellent 
timber ; and even furnishes sufficient to make 
it an article for the export trade of the locality. 
This is the most notable forest in the country ; 
but there are others which require only the 
same notice and labour to make them equally 
productive. At about 30 miles East of Clan- 
william, for instance, are large plantations of 
cedar, and there are similar ones of poplar and 
oak in Worcester; while, in the Eastern district, 
extensive forests of every kind of African tim- 
ber are available. 
Swellendam and Worcester are both worthy 
of notice, as regards their fertility and com- 
mercial importance, but they are devoid of any 
objects of special interest to the eyes of a tra- 
veller. The former contains an area of about 
7700 square miles of country; while Worces- 
ter includes 20,000 square miles; but, of this, 
a large portion is mountainous, and covered 
with Karroo, which necessarily compels the in- 
