SOUTHERN AFRICA. 367 
On the 8tli of March 1799, I joined Lieutenant (now Cap- 
tain) Smyth, of the corps of engineers and Aid-du-Camp of 
Genera] Dundas, with a Serjeant's party of dragoons at the 
foot of Hottentot Holland's Kloof, which is the only pass 
leading to the eastern parts of the colony, over the high chain 
of mountains that terminates the Cape isthmus ; which chain, 
at a few miles to the southward of the Kloof, forms the east- 
ern boundary of the extensive bay False. 
The first river we had occasion to cross, beyond the moun- 
tains, is called by the Dutch the Palmiet, the name they give 
to a strong boggy plant- that grows abundantly in this and 
some other rivers of the colony, probably from its resemblance 
to some of the palm tribe. If I mistake not, it is a species of 
Acorns. For eight months in the year this river scarcely con- 
tains a drop of water, but is mostly impassable the other four ; 
which is also the case with the Bott river about ten miles be- 
yond the Palmiet. Both of these periodical streams are un- 
safe in the winter season, and fatal accidents have happened 
to persons attempting to cross them when full. Among these 
may be mentioned that of Mr. Patrick, assistant-surgeon to 
the 8th Light Dragoons, whose horse being unable to stem 
the stream, was carried down the river, and the rider perished. 
The country affords tolerably good pasturage, and will yield 
one moderate crop of grain in the season without manure. It 
is thinly inhabited, consisting principally of grazing farms 
which belong to persons who hold estates upon the Cape side 
of the mountains. The first house that occurred in our route 
was near ten miles beyond the kloof, which, by losing our wviy 
