190 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
are generally of a round form, and the valleys 
of a basin-like shape. The soil is mostly a rich 
alluvial mould, on a sharp gravel of decomposed 
schistus j and although the indications of vol- 
canic influence near the surface of the earth, 
are of very rare occurrence, yet the primary 
rocks are not often visible, except on the more 
elevated ranges of land, as in the Wintervogee- 
berg, Drakenberg, and other mountains. 
The general character of the country is moun- 
tainous. The landscape scenery of which, is 
more easily appreciated, when viewed, than des- 
cribed to those who are strangers to it. The 
purest tints of cobalt could not exaggerate the 
intense blue of the distance, whilst the glorious 
r#ys of the setting sun, throw their long sha- 
dows in oblique lines of crimson lake and mad- 
der, which few artists can imitate or delineate 
on canvass. The foregrounds of pictures in 
Kaffirland, are either formed of vast plains of 
unbroken pasture land, dotted with herds of 
Kaffir cattle, and multitudes of wild beasts; 
or else by undulating hills, covered for miles 
with dense bush ; whilst, here and there, large 
forest trees appear. The valleys are watered 
by serpentine rivers, whose streams flow, alter- 
nately, through long deep beds, overhung with 
frowning, perpendicular krantzes (precipices,) 
amongst rough blocks of stone, over which they 
