254 
DANGEROUS ASCENT — ELEVATED LAND. 
6 Aug. 
giving up all for lost. By singular good fortune, the wheel took a 
direction against a large block of stone, which lay on one side of 
the road, and thus gave the cattle time to recover their feet, and 
take breath. The drivers debated whether it would be possible to 
reach the summit till the ground was become dryer. At length, 
after allowing the teams to rest a few minutes, they resolved to 
make the attempt, rather than have the trouble of coming again 
another day. Accordingly, two Hottentots followed each waggon 
with large stones, ready to scoat the wheels the moment they 
began to run backwards ; and, by a smart application of the whip, 
and loud whooping, the oxen made an extraordinary exertion, hap- 
pily surmounted this dangerous place, and safely gained the summit 
of the pass. 
From this summit, a country, scattered over with hills, ex- 
tends itself northward, without any very perceptible descent ; and 
it is therefore concluded that the Roggeveld is the most elevated 
land of the colony, excepting Sneeuwberg and Coudveld, as I 
have before stated. * The Hantain-berg, lying in the direction of 
north-north-west from the Roggeveld mountain, is said to be also 
very high land, and is remarkable for being one of the few situations 
in this part of the country where horses are not liable to the Paarde- 
ziekte (Horse-distemper), which rages during the summer-season, 
and annually carries off great numbers. 
Climbing this mountain, occupied us an hour and forty 
minutes, after making allowance for the delays ; and on arriving at 
the top, the thermometer was found to have fallen nine degrees and 
a half; it standing then at three degrees and a half below the 
freezing point. (-2°*9 Centig.). In guessing the height of this part 
of the Roggeveld above the level of the sea, I am guided only by 
the frequent ascents in the road from the Cape to this spot ; and am 
aware that, from such vague data, I may be much mistaken in stating 
the height to be between six and seven thousand feet. Yet the air 
* At page 8 1 . 
