1811. A CHANGE OF CLIMATE. — THE STRAAT. 297 
hours longer, than to rest in a country where they could get neither 
water nor pasture. 
A very remarkable and material difference of character distin- 
guishes the country, on the borders of which we now were, from 
that which lay behind us. To a certain distance from the sea-coast, 
the rainy season takes place in the winter months : but beyond that, 
the soil is watered only by the thunder-showers, which fall during 
the summer season : consequently, we were now entering upon a 
country where, at the present time of the year, water and pasture 
might be expected to be scarce. 
Hitherto we had seen none of the large game, which I had under- 
stood to be so plentiful in the colony, that we should be enabled to 
obtain our daily supply of meat by hunting ; but it was now said, 
that this would not be the case until we had crossed the Great 
Karro. 
By moonlight we passed through a singular defile in a ridge of 
rocky hills. It was very narrow and stony ; and the perpendicular 
wall-like sides which enclosed the road on either hand, favoured by the 
uncertain light of the moon, gave to the place a considerable degree 
of resemblance to a large street ; and the sound of the wheels rattling 
over the rocky ground, as on a pavement, and reverberated from 
these walls, still further assisted the imagination. It is, therefore, 
not surprising that this defile should have obtained the name of 
De Straat (The Street). It is, perhaps, less than the eighth of a 
mile in length. 
We continued travelling over a level, sandy, and open country ; 
passing close by a lake called Verkeerde Valley (Contrary Lake). 
This is an extensive sheet of water, which, in the rainy season, has 
a constant outlet ; but becomes stagnant during the rest of the year. 
Jt is said to owe its name to the circumstance of the rivulet, which 
issues from it, running in a direction contrary to the other streams 
of that part of the country. It abounds in water-fowl, chiefly ducks, 
geese, and coots. 
At ten o'clock, after a journey of thirty miles, we arrived at 
Pieier Jacobs s. The family, not expecting us till the next day, had 
