VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 195 
tiful plant does not rear its head in its proper season ; and in the 
midst of this brown desert, we see the magnificent chandelier, or 
red star-flower, measuring from four or five inches, to a foot and a 
half, in the spread of its rays, growing luxuriantly among stones 
and sand. 
Unexpectedl3% we found ourselves on the brow of a descent into 
a charming vale, called the Soutc Kloof. AVe dismounted and 
walked into it. The whole country assumed a difierent character, 
as we approached the Chamtoos Revier. The descent into the 
Soute Kloof promised fair for a change in mineralogical appear- 
ances, for it was covered with fragments of a bluish quartz, with 
mica, and a disposition in the fissures of the quai tz to chrystali- 
zation. A soft shistus broke forth in several places, but towards the 
bottom, all these favourable symptoms vanished, and the old com- 
binations of sand-stone coloured by iron, with opaque veins of quartz, 
disappointed my wishes. Our attention, however, was sufficiently 
engrossed by the ever-changing scenery of this lovely spot. The 
elegant, but troublesome mimosa, occupies the greatest part of 
the wood, so as to render it in some parts impervious. 
In passing over a gentle eminence, we were struck by the view 
of a remarkable cavern to the right, and left the waggons, that we 
might go and examine it. It consisted of a natural arch of about 
twenty feet span, the rock composed entirely of smaller or larger 
pebbles, cemented together by a ferruginous clay, so as to constitute 
a coarse pudding-stone. The whole appearance of the cavern was, 
in miniature, not unlike the rocks of Cushendim in the north of 
Ireland, which I visited in 1808. Mr. Melville, Schmitt, and Stein, 
climbed up the steep ascent into the cave, while I stood below, en- 
deavouring to make a sketch of it. Deeply engaged with my 
work, and seeing Mr. Melville and Stein return to the waggon, I 
thought he whole party had left the cavern. Unexpectedly, I 
heard something stirring within, and stopped to listen. All was 
still, and I went on drawing, though somewhat alarmed. By and 
by, the noise increased, and fancying, that by our invasion of the 
