1811. 
EXCURSION TO WITSENBERG. 
131 
Contreberg, Riebelcs Kasteel, Huningberg, the sea at Saldanha Bay^ 
Piquetberg, and the district of the Four-and-twenty-rivers, are seen in 
succession on turning the eye from the south-west round to the 
north-west. Table Mountain is seen very clearly and distinctly, 
though distant seventy miles in a direct line ; and St. Helena Bay, 
which is at about an equal distance, is visible when the glitter of the 
setting sun is reflected from the water. In the north, the high peaks 
of Winterhoek rise up and intercept the view in that quarter. On 
the eastern side, a narrow valley, stretching along the foot of Witsen- 
berg, is walled in by a second and parallel range of mountains, 
called Schurfdeberg (Scurfy Mountain), on account of its rocky and 
rugged appearance. Southward, the view extends over the whole 
length of the valley of Roodezand, or Waveren. 
On the rocky summit of this mountain, I found a great variety 
of plants, a large proportion of which I had not met with before. 
The beautiful nodding red flowers of Protea nana immediately 
caught my eye ; and a multitude of new and interesting objects 
seemed as if soliciting me to admire them. 1 fancied they were 
crowding round me with complaints against the want of taste, the 
cold indifference towards them, and the apathy, which they expe- 
rienced from every body who passed their way. Some, I fancied, re- 
presented their having for many years produced blossoms of the most 
charming hues, and shed the softest perfumes, without any person hav- 
ing deigned even to cast an eye upon them. In this modest assembly 
of mountaineers were many whose names are well known in Europe* ; 
* Hermas gigantea 
Liparia Iccvigata 
ProtcBa speciosa 
Liparia umbellifera 
Erica comosa 
Bupleurum difforme 
Dodonea angustifolia 
Proteea longifolia 
Leucodendrum plumosum 
Lobelia pinifolia 
Dilati-is corymhosa 
Erica fastigiata 
Cliffortia ilicifolia 
Hermas depauperata 
Borbonia crenata 
Stoebe erico'ides 
Rqfnia triflora 
Stoebe virgata 
Arnica imdoides 
Othonna tenuissima 
