72 TRAVELS IN 
the myrmecophaga Capenfts or ant-eater of the Cape, is alfo very 
common, and like the porcupine undermines the ground, fel- 
dom quitting its fubterranean abode except in the night. The 
thighs of this animal are fometimes faked, and in that ftate con- 
fidered as very good hams. 
The valley of Roode Sand is about thirty miles in length, 
and is inhabited by about forty families. Quitting this divi- 
fion, the country becomes wild, and almoft uninhabited. 
Bogs, fwamps, and morafs covered with rufhes and four 
plants, large tracts of naked hard clay, deep fandy roads, 
pools of ftagnant water, and thofe infallible indications of a 
barren foil, hillocks of ants, are the chief objeds that meet the 
eye of the traveller. For feveral miles together no human 
habitation makes its appearance. In this dreary country there 
w^as nothing to engage the attention but the vaft chain of 
mountains on the left which we were fliortly to pafs, and 
which here began to round off into an eafterly direction. 
This branch was much more wild, lofty, and barren than that 
through which the Kloef of Roode Sand opens a palfage. 
They confided of immenfe columnar maffes of naked fand- 
ftone, of a red ferruginous color pafling in places into fteel- 
blue. Their corroded and jagged tops, like the battlements of 
fo many towers or minarets, leaned from their bafes, and 
feemed to owe their only fupport to each other. The ftrata 
were here inclined to the eaftward in an angle of about forty 
degrees, and feemed as if ready to Hide down over each other. 
Still they were uniform, and had evidently never been dif- 
rupted by any fubterraneous eruption or concuffion. On the 
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