•24 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
^'777- Upon reacKW the fummlt of the moiintaui, we were prefented 
October. , ^ ^ 
^^ v '-j on the fouth with a view of the fea, and the beautiful country 
we had lately left ; and on the north we faw the Channa Land 
and Karo. After the heat of the day had abated, we directed 
our courfe eafl north-eaft, through a very rugged country, 
leaving the large chain of mountains on our right hand ; and, 
at the diflance of about forty miles, we obferved another chain 
on our left. Though this country has a very barren appear- 
ance, yet it abounds with plants, fuch as the Euphorbium, 
CrafTula, the Mezembryanthimum, and many fpecies of Gera- 
nium. The climate differs much from tliat of the oppofite 
fide of the mountains ; it feldom rains here, except in the 
fummer, when it is accompanied by thunder. The foil is of 
a yellow loam, intermixed with fragments of rotten rocks. In 
the evening we came to a place, called Klip Rivier, or Rocky 
River, where we remained all night ; and in the morning pur- 
chafed a fheep, which cofl us fix Dutch fliillings, equal to three 
Englifh. We purfued our journey eaftward, and at three in 
the afternoon came to a peafant's houfe. The people, on fee- 
ing us, went away, as they were not accuftomed to flrangers ; 
and it was with fome difficulty that Captain Gordon could per- 
fuade them to return to their own habitation. He inform.ed 
them, that we were come from the Cape, and the next village 
being too far diitant, requefted the favour of fuffering us to 
remain there for the night : this they granted ; and, notwith- 
ilanding their former Hiynefs, behaved to us with the greatefl 
hofpitality. 
Early in the morning, of the thirtieth, we proceeded eafl 
half north, through an extremely rugged path ; and, about one 
