4 
86 TRAVELS IN 
The two graziers having joined us with each a waggon, and 
a numerous family of children, Hottentots, and Kaffers, we 
proceeded, on the twelfth of July, to the north-eaft, and in 
four hours gained the fummit of the loweft part of the moun- 
tains that inclofe the valley. The afcent, which was from 
terrace to terrace, might be about fifteen hundred feet in the 
diftance of fix miles. From the top towards the eaft there was 
little or no defcent. Here the face of the country began to 
wear an entire new afpeil. All the great chains of mountains 
gradually difappeared, or were feen only behind finking into 
the horizon ; and a confined profpedt of a rugged furface, 
broken into hill and dale, prefented itfelf on every fide. The 
eye wandered in vain to feek relief by a diverfity of objects. 
No huge rocks confufedly fcattered on the plain, or piled into 
mountains, no hills clothed with verdure, no traces of culti- 
vation, not a tree nor a tall fhrub, appeared to break the uni- 
formity of the furface, nor bird nor bead to enliven the dreary 
wafte. Vegetation was thinly fcattered over a bed of brownifh- 
colored clay, and the low and ftunted plants were almoft 
wholly confined to the fucculent tribe. Of thefe the moft 
common were feveral fpecies of inefembryanthemum^ of euphor^ 
bia, crajfula, and cotyledon. The grand family of proteas^ and the 
elegant erica, had totally difappeared. The road was tolerably 
good, being carried generally over a bed of fand-ftone crolTed 
with veins of fat quartz, and a kind of ponderous iron-ftone. 
Having travelled about feven hours, in which time the oxen 
had not proceeded above fifteen miles, we entered a long nar- 
row pafs made by two hills : the faces of thefe being nearly 
perpen- 
