1812. 
DISTANCES ASCERTAINED BY PROPORTION. 
31 
came up nearly to the first, and then in the same manner selecting 
another beyond the second : thus continuing, from point to point as 
we advanced, taking a fresh object farther onwards. 
Our average rate of travellings during the whole of this journey, 
was proved to be three miles and a half in the hour. Not venturing, 
from fear of accident, to take my sextant on this expedition to the 
Colony, I have had only the bearings and estimated distances to guide 
me in laying down this part of ray track on tlie map. But having 
travelled twice over the same ground, and taken the bearings and 
distances, on my return as well as at this time ; and having, as fixed 
and determined points at each end, the Kloof Village in the Asbestos 
Mountains, and the village of Graaffreynet, I am inclined to think 
that the positions assigned to my stations are not far from the truth. 
And although I had not the advantage of ascertaining our rate of 
travelling, by the revolutions of the wheel of my waggon, as already 
explained * ; yet having assumed a certain proportional scale of 
hours, making occasional allowance for an accelerated or a retarded 
rate, I each evening carefully plotted on paper the route of the 
day ; and this proportional survey being finally laid down between 
the true latitudes of those two extreme points, it is evident that the 
situations of the intermediate places cannot be very erroneous. 
The surface of this plain was composed of good loamy soil, 
generally covered with shrubs two feet high, but varied with frequent 
extensive patches of grass, and sometimes with bushes of Lycium 
which were of a greater height than any of the other shrubs. 
Plants of that singular genus Stapelia were here and there observed ; 
particularly one with large flowers of a blackish-red color, and 
another with yellow flowers growing in lateral umbels. Hares were 
seen during this day's ride ; and many quakkas were perceived grazing 
at a distance. 
At sunset we ended the day's journey, and took up our station 
on the banks of the river, which we here found almost hidden by 
* In the first volume, at pages 289 and 290. 
