284 
GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY. 
3, 4 Sept. 
The country from the Koggeveld Mountain to the northern 
border of the colony, may be characterised as a high plain, free 
from large mountains, but thickly strewed over with moderate hills 
and elevations ; having very few rivers, and all of these nearly dried 
up in the summer ; quite destitute of trees and grass, but every 
where covered with bushes springing out of a naked red soil de- 
prived of moisture during a great part of the year. These bushes 
are not more than a foot or two in height, excepting various kinds 
of Lycium, and almost exclusively belong to the Natural Order of 
Composite flowers, or the class Syngenesia of Linnseus. One general 
cast of features, not peculiar, however, to this district, pervades all 
these vegetables ; a minute and arid foliage. Yet on these all the 
cattle browse, and such wild animals as are herbivorous. 
Of o-ame there was but little to be found at this season : neither 
did we see a single human being, more than those who have been 
mentioned. Notwithstanding characteristics so apparently unpro- 
mising, this district produces some of the best sheep and horses in 
the colony ; and the boors would readily spread themselves farther 
into the interior, on land of the same nature, if not wisely (for the 
present, at least,) checked by the regulations of Government. If the 
occupation of new territory were permitted in the same unrestrained 
and extensive manner as formerly, it would not be long before the 
colonists had reached the Gariep ; as much of the intermediate land 
must, from want of water, necessarily be deemed useless. 
