COLESBEEGr. 
129 
The main road, leading to the fording place 
on the Orange Kiver, and from thence to the 
Griqua and Bechuana tribes, the great lakes, 
and other interior localities, passes through the 
centre of this district, and gives it great impor- 
tance in a commercial point of view — a con- 
siderable trade being carried on with the seve- 
ral tribes of the country towards the North. 
In cattle and sheep, this is considered to be 
the richest division of the Colony; while, in 
the fleld-cornetcy of Hantam, a race of the 
hardiest horses, that can be obtained in the 
Eastern Province of the Colony, are bred. 
The general appearance of the district is mono- 
tonous, arising from a great scarcity of wood. 
Many extensive tracts scarcely produce a bush, 
and the farmers are dependent upon the manure 
of their cattle and sheep kraals, for their neces- 
sary fuel. This want is the more severely felt, as 
the country lies high, and the cold of winter is 
often extremely severe. Sharp frosts and violent 
snow-storms are common ; at which seasons the 
cattle and sheep suffer greatly, and many even 
perish, for want of shelter. 
Although the district contains extensive 
plains, yet these are broken by numerous lofty 
hills and detached ridges ; all of which supply 
abundance of excellent pasturage. The country 
is seldom intersected by kloofs or ravines, and 
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