100 
RE-ENTERING THE COLONY. 
17, 18 March, 
line was more varied and pleasing. But a feature which had nto 
been observed in the other mountains of the Cisgariepine, at least 
since we had left the Asbestos Mountains, was a deep stratum, some- 
times forty or fifty feet thick, of sandstone^ running through them 
at a httle distance below their summits, and of a paler color than 
the other strata. Huge fragments, or blocks, of this stone, lay 
every where scattered about the valleys ; and the scenery as we rode 
along them, became more picturesque as we advanced, and very 
different from all which we had now seen in the country on this 
side of the Gariep. 
This change in the geology of the mountains, was accompanied 
by a change in botany : their sides were clothed with a richer foliage, 
and with many plants hitherto new ; particularly a species of Rhus * 
which grew from between the rocks, and decorated the foot of the 
hills with pleasing light soft masses, in rounded, yet beautiful, forms, 
and generally of the height of six or eight feet. This elegant shrub 
was found no where but in these regions. 
Being eager to discover some proof of our immediate vicinity 
to the Colony, I rode on before, with two of my men. We ascended 
a very rocky ridge connecting loftier mountains, M^hence I had an 
opportunity of taking the bearing of the * Bushman Table Moun- 
tain.' With some difficulty we descended to the flat on the other 
side, where we found a small pond of water, and discovered, to our 
great pleasure, that it had been frequented by flocks of sheep : and 
our suspicions of having actually entered the Colony, were confirmed 
soon afterwards by Philip, who, having been obliged to take the 
loaded oxen round by a lower opening between the mountains, had 
seen the remains of an old leg-plaats or cattle-station. 
As the sun was nearly setting, we halted here for the night. 
All my people were highly pleased at finding that we had thus safely 
accomplished the passage through the country of the Bushmen, and 
evinced a considerable share of satisfaction, by talking and laughing 
* Rhus serrcefolium, B. Catal. Geogr. 2697. Frutex sexpedalis ramosissimus. Foliola 
linearia grosse serrata glabra; (juniora prassertim) lucida et quasi vernice oblita. 
