SOUTHERN AFRICA. 71 
The bark of several of the creeping plants in the forests 
might be employed as substitutes for hemp. The iron ores 
near the base of the mountains might be worked by clearing 
the wood, of which there is an inexhaustible supply. The 
timber is, undoubtedly, suitable for many purposes, notwith- 
standing the prejudices that have been entertained against it 
very undeservedly, and very ignorantly, because about one- 
eighth part only of the ditferent kinds has ever undergone 
a trial, and these few by no means a decisive one. The 
climate is trying for the best timber ; and English oak even 
gives way much sooner here than in its native country, by 
the alternate exposu-re to wet weather, dry winds, and scorch- 
ing sun. Where such exposure has been guarded against, 
one of the slightest Cape woods, the geel hout or yellow 
wood, has been known to stand a hundred years without 
shewing symptoms of decayo 
The native trees of the Cape are many of them of quick 
growth, and advance to a large size, but they are much 
twisted and shaken by the wind, and generally hollow at 
heart. Many, however, are perfectly sound, and every way 
suitable for balk, rafters, joists, and plank, but, I again 
repeat it, they have never yet met with a fair trial. The 
bay will hereafter be noticed, and also a harbour called the 
Knysna, which is in this district, and closer to the forests 
than even the bay itself. 
9. Olifanfs River runs at the foot of the second chain of 
mountains or the Zwarteberg to the westward, and falls into 
the Gauritz River, The soil is Karroo, and strongly tinged^ 
1 
