SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
137 
of evergreen plants holding a middle rank, in point of fize, be- 
tween fhrubs and trees. The tree crajfula^ feveral fpecies of the 
aloe^ the euphorbia^ and other fucculent plants, were alfo mixed 
with the fhrubbery. The whole valley is divided between four 
families, each having not lefs than five thoufand acres of land 
independent of the enclofing hills covered with wood. Yet not 
fatisfied with this enormous quantity, they have made feveral 
attempts to burn down the foreft, that the cattle might more 
conveniently come at the hefts of fweet grafs that abound 
within it. Hitherto all their endeavours have proved fruitlefs. 
The moment that the fucculent plants, particularly the great 
aloes and euphorbia^ became heated, the expanded air within 
them burft open the ftems, and their juices, rufhing out in 
ftreams, extinguiflied the fire. 
In one part of the valley was a morafs of confiderable extent, 
that by one fingle drain might be converted into a very beauti- 
ful meadow. The vafl; numbers of the Egyptian and the 
Mountain goofe, of teals, and feveral fpecies of ducks, that har- 
boured in the reeds by which the fwamp was covered, v/ere 
beyond credibility, and the damage they did to the corn was 
very confiderable. I have feen a field literally covered with 
them ; and they were too bold to be driven away by (hooting 
at them. The buffalos alfo defcend from the thickets at night, 
and commit great depredations among the corn. Thefe, how- 
ever, are much more eafily chafed away than the geefe, and 
retire at the report of a mufquet. 
T 
The 
