SOUTHERN AFRICA. 339 
mto tobacco-pipes, as the heat soon destroys the colors ; and, 
if carried to redness, the form also ; for, like Zeolite, it pos- 
sesses the character of intumescence by strong heat. It might 
be manufactured into vases, little inferior to the Derbyshire 
spar which, though much less esteemed than it deserves, be- 
cause too common, has certainly few rivals in the lapidary's 
workshop. 
We attempted to ascend the highest point of the Khamies 
berg on horseback, but before we had gained the general 
summit out of which it rises, we were buried in a thick mist, 
which shortly became heavy rain; and the thermometer from 
.51° at the bottom of the mountain, had descended to 34°. 
We took shelter in the solitary hovel of a Dutch peasant, that 
stood on the sloping summit of the mountain. Cold as it 
was, the man and his family had no other habitation than a 
hut made of rush matting, and fashioned after the manner of 
the Namaaquas, which will presently be noticed. Though 
rich as to the number of his sheep and cattle, he could have 
no other comfort in life, except, like the miser at the foot of 
the mountain, the gratification arising from knowing how 
much he Mas worth. Fearful that the weather might become 
Avorse, and that from the encreasing cold the rain might be 
converted into snow, we thought it prudent to give up the at- 
tempt of proceeding higher, and to make the best of our way- 
down. It frequently happens that the snow begins to fall on 
this mountain early in May. The inhabitants are then obliged 
to quit their elevated situation, and to establish themselves 
for the winter on the plains below. Neither the distance of 
the Khamies berg IVom the sea, which is only about fifteen 
