GAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
35 
them to an impassable height; and again in a few hours they will 
return to their usual bed. The day was rainy and windy, which 
obliged us to keep down the curtains of our waggon : we saw there- 
fore but little of the scenery or plants. This was, as we afterwards 
found, no loss to us, being obliged to return by the same road. 
We met with a most hospitable reception from Mynheer De Wall ; 
and as the rain continued, we determined to stay and dine with 
him, and in the evening proceed to the Roode Sand. He was a well 
informed gentleman, and his family looked contented and good- 
humoured ; his house was excellent, and his fare good. He advised 
us next to go to his wife's brother's, at the Roode Sand, which we 
resolved to do. Nothing could be more dreary than the plain of 
low brush wood, which we at first travelled over, level as the sea, and 
bounded by the distant mountains, which, though grand, were now 
by custom become familiar to us. The scene however, began to 
change, and improve in beauty as we approached the pass, where 
the Klein Berg makes its way from the Roode Sand through the lofty 
range of mountains which separates the Cape land from the interior of 
Africa. It fortunately cleared up ; we therefore determined to walk 
through the Klolf,* both to have a better view of the river and 
mountains, and to avoid the intolerable jolting of our waggons. 
The road was conducted along the banks of the river, at dif- 
ferent degrees of elevation. It was rendered nearly impassable by 
masses of large stone, which had rolled from the height above, and 
by the inequality of the rock itself, which the boors had not taken 
the trouble even to break or level. After about three miles of very 
fatiguing work we cleared Roode Sand Kloff, and had the valley 
^ A pass between two mountains. 
VOL, I. F 
