1811. 
THE WARM BATH AT ZWARTEBERG. 
95 
kind, and more frequently of a larger size, are pretty common in 
'many parts of the colony. 
After passing several farm-houses, we crossed the Bath river at 
Gildenhuys's, where a road on the right descends into the valley, to 
a spot which had just been fixed upon by the Cape Government for 
the site of a village, since named Caledo7i, in honor of the Governor 
under whom it was founded. Here also was to be erected the 
Drostdy of the Deputy Landdrost of Swellendam ; it having been 
found necessary, for the better administration of the executive go- 
vernment, to subdivide that extensive district. Passing under the 
western end of Zwarteberg, the Bath-house came in view, and had 
a very pretty effect, being a white, regular, flat-roofed building, 
pleasantly situated in an elevated part of the southern slope of the 
mountain. It was built in the year 1797, and at this time was the 
property of a medical gentleman of the name of Hassener, who 
resided in the neighbouring house, and under whose superintendence 
invalids made use of these baths. . 
The Zwarteberg (Black Mountain) is a short mountainous ridge, 
running east and west, of secondary height, and, in general structure 
and appearance, as far as I could observe, not differing from the 
other mountains in its neighbourhood ; nor was the blackness, which 
gave rise to the name, at all remarkable, nor even very evident. 
From the lower part of its southern front, projects a small flat hill, 
out of the upper part of which issue, in several places, hot springs, 
the waters of which raised my thermometer to 118 degrees (38.2 of 
Reaumur ; 47.77 Centig.) This water deposits, in the channels 
along which it runs, an orange-coloured ochre ; but after a course of 
two or three hundred yards, ceases to discolour the ground. It 
contains iron and sulphur, and has a slightly chalybeate taste. 
Within three yards of one of these hot springs, there rises another, 
the water of which is pure and tasteless, without being in the least 
degree warmer than the usual temperature of spring-water. The 
hill is not rocky, but seems to be composed of a loose black earth, 
having very much of a volcanic appearance, amongst which were 
pieces of hard, black, scoriated iron ore, of a metallic heaviness. 
