102 
F. E. Weiss and R. H. Yapp. 
lating plain, or plateau, several miles in width. This plain runs 
nearly east and west, and is bounded on the north and south by 
mountain ridges, probably 1,000 feet, or more, above the general 
level of the plain. 
At Prince Albert, seventy miles further east, the mean annual 
rainfall is 1P49 inches, 1 though at Matjesfontein the precipitation 
is probably somewhat greater. Moreover, this part of the Karroo 
falls within the “ Constant Rainfall Area 2 ,” which separates the 
western region of South Africa with winter rains, from the eastern 
district with over 70% of its rainfall during the summer months. 
Thus Matjesfontein receives some part of its scanty rainfall during 
the winter months, and part during the summer. The rains are 
frequently reinforced by heavy dews, which are consequent on the 
rapid lowering of temperature at night. 
The air on the Karroo, and this is also true of many other 
parts of South Africa, is as a rule, remarkably clear and bright, so 
clear as to render distances, at least to visitors from less sunny 
climes, very deceptive. 
The tiny village of Matjesfontein is conspicuous from some 
distance, owing to the comparative luxuriance of its vegetation. 
The latter consists largely of plants belonging to the two 
Australian genera Eucalyptus and Hakea, together with (in the 
grounds of the Hotel Milner) a few orange trees. These plants 
can thrive here only by reason of frequent irrigation, which is 
effected by means of channels fed by pumping. The soil, however, 
is fertile enough, and it only needs a constant and sufficient supply 
of water to render it really productive. 
Beyond the confines of the village, and as far as the eye can 
reach, the plain is covered with a low bush or scrub formation. 
Although the vegetation is intensely xerophilous in character, it is 
much more abundant than in many desert regions, such as the 
Sahara, 3 where the climatic conditions arc still more severe. At 
a distance the scrub sometimes appears almost continuous (Fig. 1, 
PI. V.), but a nearer view reveals the fact that the formation is 
really an “ open ” one, a considerable amount of bare soil or rock 
being visible (Figs. 1—3, PI. V.) 
The soil is stony, but finer particles, washed in between the 
1 Bolus, loc. cit., p. 224. 
* C. M. Stewart. The Meteorology of South Africa. Science in 
South Africa, 1905, p. 28. 
3 Sec illustrations of the Algerian Sahara in A. F. W. Schimpcr’s 
Plant Geography, 1903, pp. 608, ct seq. 
