1812. 
DESCENT FROM THE SNOW-MOUNTAINS. 
133 
found intermediate spaces of level ground. At the distance of about 
five miles from Cold Station we crossed a branch of the Garst (Barley) 
river, which was at this time so full, as to be but barely fordable ; 
and a mile farther we passed a house and farm belonging also to Piet 
Van der Merwe, and which he had mentioned to us as a place where 
we might take up our quarters. From this house, till we quitted the 
Sneeuwbergen, the hills resume the tabular form so common in 
the Cisgariepine ; and many, which were both large and lofty, suc- 
ceeded each other, with intervening levels of various extent. The 
country of the Sneeuwbergen, may be described as a very elevated 
region, level in many parts, but almost every where thickly studded 
with high rocky mountains. 
After this, we travelled between four and five hours longer, 
without halting ; and were rejoiced at finding ourselves arrived at the 
top of the descent from the Snow Mountains. The prospect was 
exceedingly fine, as wild and rocky scenery. Lofty mountains 
in the distance seemed to close the view before us, but the road, 
after descending into the valley, leads round on the right, into the 
extensive plains which lie between the Sneeuwbergen and Graafi"- 
reynet. This view, and the appearance of our party, are represented 
in the second plate. 
The descent was very steep, and the road in some places broken 
and dangerous. Here we found trees of a larger size than we had seen 
for some time ; and the deep glens and bold sides of the mountain, 
were rendered verdant by an abundance of large bushes of spekboom 
(fat-tree*,) and were well covered with wood of rich and beautiful 
foliage. Amongst these were many which I had no where met with 
before, but which, at this time, I had no opportunity of collecting. f 
* Portulacaria Afra. 
•j- Of these, I noted in passing, 
Grewia I'obusta, B. Catal. Geogr. 2845. Ramuli robusti rigidi. Folia parva ovata 
obtusa crenulata subtus tomentoso-albida. Fructus subhirsutus, sub-tetracoccus. Pedun- 
culi solitarii oppositifolii, foliis paulo breviores uni- vel bi-flori. Flores purpurei. 
Celastrus linearis, B. Cat. Geog. 2872. Frutex 6 — 8-pedalis. Fob'a integerrima 
linearia. Spinae internodiis duplo longiores rectae horizontales folia proferentes simul cum 
cymis sessilibus. Incolis Hollandicis dicitur Pen-doom ; nomen aliis fruticibus pariter 
spinosis commune. 
