6o 
TRAVELS IN 
great chain of mountains, in their course to the Berg River. 
Many of these, in their progress over the plain, form large 
tracts of swampy ground that have been found to produce 
very fine rice. Wheat, barley, and pulse are the principal 
articles that are cultivated in these two divisions, but they 
have plenty of fruit, and make a little wine for their own fa- 
mily use. Should the Bay of Saldanha, at any future period, 
become the general rendezvous of shipping, these two divi- 
sions will be more valuable than all the rest of the colony. 
15. The Picqiiet Berg terminates the plains of the Four-and- 
twenty Rivers to the northward. Here, besides corn and 
fruit, the inhabitants rear horses, horned cattle, and sheep. 
And from hence, also, is sent to the Cape market a consider- 
able quantity of tobacco, which has the reputation of being 
of the best quality that Southern Africa produces. 
16. Olifant's River is a fine clear stream, flowing through a 
narrow valley, hemmed in between the great chain of moun- 
tains and an inferior ridge called the Carclouw. This valley, 
being intersected by numerous rilis of water from the moun- 
tains on each side, is extremely rich and fertile; but the great 
distance from the Cape, and the bad roads over the Cardouw, 
hold out little encouragement for the fai^mer to extend the 
cultivation of grain, fruit, or wine, beyond the necessary 
supply of his own family. Dried fruit is the principal article 
they send to market, after the supplies, which they furnish, 
of horses, horned cattle, and sheep. The country on each 
side of the lower part of the river is dry and barren, and for 
many miles from the mouth entirely uninhabited. A chaly- 
1 
