492 
SLATE-ROCKS. — RETREAT OF VULTURES. 
14—18 Dec. 
and four hundred feet, and was, on either side, shut in by brown, 
perpendicular, laminated rocks, of a hundred feet in height *. This 
was the spot where the missionaries first fixed their abode, when 
they and the Hottentots settled in this part of the country, about 
eight years before. There were still at this time three or four mat 
huts, whose inhabitants cultivated about a couple of acres of wheat ; 
yet no kind of garden nor fruit-tree marked an appearance of in- 
dustry, although a large space of ground, and a plentiful rill of de- 
lightful water, seemed sufficient to tempt Indolence herself to take 
the spade in hand. In excuse for this, it was asserted that the soil 
in many places is of a brackish quality ; but of this I saw no very 
evident proofs. 
Against the rocks, a handsome shrub of a broader foliage than 
is generally met with in these regions, spread its branches, and, in 
])laces, concealed the brown stone by its beautifal dark green laurel- 
like leaves. Its smooth, pale, tortuous trunk sprung out of the 
clefts of the hard rock, and clung to its surface in the manner of 
ivy, but without putting forth any roots. It was a species of Ficus 
(or Fig-tree), whose fruit, not larger than a pea, was first yellow, 
and afterwards, when quite ripe, of a purple colour, yet not worth 
eating. Its fresh green appearance against the barren precipice, 
tempted me to make a sketch of it. f 
I found in this valley, Aristida ? fruticans^, a very remarkable 
grass, of a hard, shrubby, branching growth. 
Here, under the inaccessible crags of the precipice, the great 
vultures (mentioned at page 377.) hold their abode, perfectly secure 
from all molestation ; and their retreat would ever remain undisco- 
vered, were it not betrayed by the white stains from their dirt. 
This valley has several outlets on either side, and presents a 
* This scene is represented by the engraving at the end of" the chapter. . 
f Out of the fissures of the rock grew some large bushes of Macromerum junceum^ and 
Capparis punctata, Cat. . Geogr. 1891. Frutex inermis 4 — 6-pedalis, ramificatione 
subpatente. Folia anguste lanceolata obtusissima. Racemuli brevissimi solitarii, vel bini, 
axillares. Fructus globosus laevis reticulato-punctatus. 
X Cat. Geogr. 1885. 
