348 
COUNTRY BETWEEN GATTIKAMMA 
30 Sept. 
to time, it might justly be denominated, as we had been on the road 
from Cape Town, three months and a half, although the distance is 
not more than seven hundred and ninety one miles. 
The obdurate rocks of Greenstone annoyed us exceedingly, 
and, as they were, in many places, too abundant to be avoided, we 
frequently received the most violent jolts, threatening destruction to 
our wheels. * For the first six or seven miles, we passed over a 
plain well covered with dry grass ; in a distant part of which, was 
seen a herd of more than a hundred Springbucks, which at first were 
mistaken for a flock of sheep. The surface of the country was varied 
with gentle risings, and hills of moderate elevation ; but night, soon 
afterwards coming on, put an end to further observation. The bright- 
ness of the moon enabled us to follow the proper track ; which, at 
this short distance from Klaarwater, was much beaten. In one part, 
towards the end of our journey, we passed abundance of a hand- 
some shrub, from five to seven feet in height, covered with showy 
yellow flowers, but quite destitute of leaves ; and, even by this light, 
easily to be distinguished as a plant which had not been any where 
seen before : it was completely armed at all points ; its green leaf- 
less branches being terminated by a spine as sharp as a needle, f 
The coldness of the night air was so great as to oblige us to walk 
nearly all the way, to keep ourselves warm. 
As we drew nearer to the settlement, the road became more 
rocky, and the noise of the waggons rattling over the stones, an- 
nounced our approach ; but it was at that hour of the night, or 
rather morning, when all its inhabitants were fast asleep, excepting 
* A new species of Royena, four or five feet high, was remarkable for the smallness 
of its leaves, its flesh-colored flowers, and the prettiness of its growth. 
Royena microfhylla. B. Catal. ^Geogr. 1696. Frutex ramosissimus rigidus. Folia 
minima tomentosa, elongate obovata, subtus reticulata, rachide valido. Flores solitarii 
axillares deflexi. Calyx, et corolla externe, hirsuta. Fructus globosus. 
f Spartiuvi cuspidosum, B. Catal. Geog. 1697. Frutex ramosissimus rigidus. Ra- 
niuli divaricati virides teretes, omnes spina acutissima terminati, aphylli exceptis surculis 
tenerioribus, quibus sunt folia petiolata simplicia et ternata foliolis ovatis ovalibus vel 
lanceolatis. Flores flavi alterni. Legumen oblongum membranaceum oligospermum. 
