1811. 
PALMIET RIVER. — DARK WATERS. 
89 
northward of Roodezand ; and besides these, several others divide 
the great ranges of mountains which separate the southern coast from 
the regions of the interior. Of these the principal are, the Hex river 
Kloof, Kokmaiis or Kogmans Kloof, Platte Kloof Attaquas Kloof and 
the Duivels-Kop ; to which may be added the dangerous and Kttle 
frequented pass of the Keiirbooms river. * 
As we rode along, the beautiful pink flowers of Pencea squamosa 
caught my eye ; and I once or twice dismounted to pluck Retzia spi- 
cata, Erica Massoni, Erica axillaris, and Protea [Spatalla of Salisbury) 
incurva. Retzia spicata is a plant of singular growth, about three 
or four feet high, with a few upright, undivided branches, thickly 
clothed with stiff, long, narrow leaves, between which its tubular, 
orange-colored flowers just appear; but they are not very conspi- 
cuous at a distance. 
We soon afterwards crossed the Palmiet liver, whose waters, 
like the greatest number of those which take their rise from the 
southern side of the great southern range of mountains, were of a 
brown color resembling coffee, but at the same time clear and whole- 
some. This is probably to be attributed to the decayed vegetable 
matter, which is observable in greater quantity on the southern than 
on the northern side of these mountains ; and which gives to all 
these waters a color exactly the same as that which is imparted by 
peat and bog-mould. After running some distance from the moun- 
tains, they lose the brown tincture, and gradually change to a more 
usual complexion, by the accession of rivulets formed in the plains. 
The boors believe this brownness to be caused by the great quantity 
of Palmite (Palmiet), which every where grows in these streams ; 
but, however much they may assist in producing this effect, they 
are certainly not the chief cause ; since I have observed them to be 
thus coloured, before they reach the foot of the mountains, and far 
above where the Palmite begins to grow. 
* Since my departure from the Cape, a convenient waggon-road has been made 
over the mountains near the Paarl, at a place called Du Toit's Kloof, which till then was 
merely a foot-path. 
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