372 TRAVELS IN 
cies, wafted by the winds and the torrents, have refted on the 
plains that ftretch along the fea coaft. The united ftreamlets of 
water among thefe hills compofe a fheet of confiderable extent, 
called the Verlooren valley^ or the Forlorn lake. It had fome 
refemblance to the Knyfna, near Plettenberg's bay, but was 
totally devoid of the appendages that beautify the latter. In- 
ftead of green knolls, fkirted and capped by foreft trees, the 
Forlorn lake was furrounded by barren mountains of fand, 
crowned with maifes of naked rock. The margin of the lake, 
however, was belted with good ground, and feemed to be tolera- 
bly well inhabited. 
It was three long days*^ journeys before the hills of fand 
were left behind, and a new fort of country, ftill fandy, pre- 
fented along the banks of the Olifant^ or Elephant's river, which, 
like the Berg, is one of the few rivers in the colony that is never 
entirely dried up. It receives a conftant fupply from the nu- 
merous rills that defcend from the great northern chain of 
mountains, along the feet of which it flows, till their dif- 
continuance in a conneded range, between the thirty-firfi: and 
thirty-fecond degree of latitude. Here they branch out into a 
number of rugged hills and detached malTes, till at length they 
mingle with the Karroo plains. After the breaking up of the 
chain of mountains, the Elephant's river turns off to the weft- 
ward, and falls into the fea, in latitude 31^° north. The 
mouth of this river is contraded, rocky, and fhallow, and 
feldom fafe to be entered by boats. Within, it is navigable near 
thirty miles up the country, which is, however, wild, and 
almoft uninhabited, owing to the fcarcity of frefh water. 
The 
