SOUTHERN AFRICA. 385 
mostly covered with grass or shrubby plants, exhibiting from 
a distance a continuance of verdant lawns, which are not fre- 
' quent in this colony, by much the greater portion of the sur- 
face being either extensive wastes of karroo almost without 
a vestige of vegetation, or naked ranges of mountains. Here 
too there was a sufficiency of water to admit of farm-houses 
being placed at the regulated distance of three miles. The 
sloping sides of the valley were covered with a great variety 
of splendid heaths, in the height of their blossom, of the shrub 
called gnidia, of the showy and everlasting Xeranfhe?num, and 
a profusion of other plants that the eye of a botanist would 
have feasted upon with avidity. But the nature of our ex- 
pedition would only admit of a glance in passing. 
Having proceeded along the Kloof to that part which is 
nearly opposite to Pletten berg's Bay, we found it necessary 
to halt a few days in order to refresh the horses. In the mean 
time I crossed the mountains, agreeably to my instructions, 
and assembled the wood-cutters in the vicinity of the bay, to 
enter into a contract with them for a supply of timber for the 
public service at the Cape. Independent of the wants of the 
government, it was considered adviseable, at this juncture, to 
furnish these people with employment, in order to keep them 
at home ; for, such is the nature of an African boor, that, hav- 
ing nothing particular to engage his attention, he is glad of 
an excuse to ride to the distance of eight or ten days, whether 
it be to a church or to a vendue, to hunt elephants or to 
plunder the KafFers. 
VOL. I. 
