342 TRAVELS IN 
tity thai may efcape by abforption and evaporation, the Green 
lake will one day, by great prefTure, break down the barrier 
that now divides it from the fea, which has evidently been the 
cafe with its neighbouring lake the Knyfna. This, in fa£t, is 
now become an arm of the fea, into which the tide fets through 
a narrow paflage or portal, as into a dock. This paflage, 
though narrow, and not quite clear of rocks, would admit of 
imall veflels; and within there is plenty of deep water ftretching 
out into a bafon of feveral miles in width. The furrounding 
hills are clamped with foreft trees, and their floping fides are 
clothed with flirubbery down to the water's edge. The lake 
is fludded with a number of flat iflands, covered with verdure. 
The arms of the Knyfna flretch into the deep vallies at the feet 
of the mountains, and are there loft in impenetrable forefts. 
The whole country is boldly marked, and moft magnificently 
clothed, and may be confidered, beyond comparifon, as the 
grandeft and moft beautiful part of Southern Africa. 
The farm-houfes in this part of the country were alfo in a 
better ftyle than they are ufually found to be at fo great a dif- 
tance from the capital. Being near the fea-coaft, the pro- 
prietors had been at the expence of burning fhells into lime, 
and of white-wafhing all the buildings. A fort of chalky 
limeftone was alfo here obferved in large malTes, lying upon, 
and near the furface ; but was never burnt into lime. To 
almoft every houfe was attached, generally in a grove of trees, 
a fmall inclofure with ornamented walls, ferving as the family 
burying-ground. The decorations ufually beftowed on thofe 
manfions 
