VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 293 
partly to afford an easier passage for the bullock's feet, and partly 
to deaden the sound of the wood, by which they are apt to be 
frightened. Two waggoners had spanned out on the opposite 
bank, and both they and their dogs seemed much alarmed at our 
early approach. The moon shone bright, and its reflection upon 
the eastern ascent of the mountain, which is covered with de- 
composed quartz, frittered into white sand, gave it the appear- 
ance of a field covered with snow. In one place, the road is 
steep, and full of rocky ledges. 
The eastern approach to the top of IIottentot-HoUands-Kloof 
is guarded on each side by fragments of rocks, thrown into a va- 
riety of fanciful groupes, and odd shapes. The road down the 
western declivity, though irremediably steep, has been much im- 
proved by the English. The adjoining precipices are rugged in 
the extreme, but every practicable spot is covered with a profu- 
sion of curious plants and shrubs. The sugar-bush grows here in 
great plenty, and, with its magnificent starry flower, adorns the 
wild region. At the top of the western descent, I noticed a vein 
of iron-stone, with sand-stone and indurated clay, of a reddish or 
violet colour, which forms the mass of that part of the hill, call- 
ed the Rothe Hochte. Towards the bottom, all the fragments of 
rock (for there are no large masses visible,) are of a coarse grit 
or granite. 
About nine, we reached Mr. Brenk^s inn, where we were oblij^ed 
to remain four hours, to let our poor famished oxen enjoy some 
food and rest. At two, Ave proceeded, called at Mr. Morgel's farm, 
and reached Mr. Delport's house at the Moddergat. Darkness 
and fatigue made us glad to find here a comfortable night's lodg- 
ing. We were all put into one room, where we had also the ho- 
nour of having our host and a boy in the same dormitory with us. 
The good man went to bed with a pipe in his mouth. When he 
felt sleep coming on, he placed it in a chair, to be ready in the 
morning. Between two and three o'clock, he struck a light, 
without quitting his bed, and fell to smoking again. It proved^, 
