2 
ON THE FLORA OF KENTANI 
Entering Kentani by the Butterworth road the country, which is 
completely grass covered, slopes gently from an elevation of about 2700 feet. 
As Fair View is approached Acacia Karroo, Ficus Gapensis, and Gussonia 
spicata appear with scrubby remnants of forests on hill sides. 
At Fair View a distinct change is noticeable, the descent is more rapid, 
trees are more numerous, Gymnosporia buxifolia is frequent, tall grasses 
clothe the valleys and vegetation on the whole is more rank. 
Just below Fair View occurs the peculiar formation known as the 
“ Transkei gap ” — a long valley, or series of valleys, running from west to 
east with here and there a natural bridge over which the road passes. 
Leaving this Kentani Hill is on the right. This hill is supposed to be 
the highest point of Kentani with an altitude of approximately 2750 ft. 
In 1886 it attracted some attention, a diamond having been reported to have 
been found there. Claims were laid out and digging began with the result 
that clays of many beautiful colours and shades were revealed, but nothing 
diamondiferous. 
From here the slope continues with various ups and downs until the 
village of Kentani is reached. This has an altitude of about 1200 ft. 1 From 
here the country falls in a series of undulations to the coast, the length thus 
described being about 35 miles, and the area of Kentani District being 
434 square miles. 
Twenty-five forests with an approximate area of 14,000 acres have been 
demarcated, and there are 31 lesser forests which have been reserved for 
future demarcation. 
There are 4 plantations — namely at Kentani Hill, Kentani village, Qolora 
near the sea, and at Manubi. These do not as yet seem to have affected the 
natural vegetation. 
The native population is about 38,000 and some idea may be formed 
of the consumption of wood when it is borne in mind that it is used not 
only for fuel, but for sticks ( Intonga ) which every man and boy carries, 
assegais, sleighs, brake blocks, stamp blocks, huts, kraals, and fences, where 
such exist, for gardens. 
It is against native custom to use kraal wood for domestic purposes, 
therefore if for any reason a kraal is abandoned the fence is allowed to decay, 
and when the owner of a hut dies the hut is burnt. 
For the year ending Sept. 1905 free permits were issued to natives of the 
franskeian Territories to cut and remove from undemarcated forests produce 
valued at £28,309. 18.s. 6 d. 
Now numerous small patches of forest, scrub, trees along streams, Acacia 
Karroo and A. eriadenia have been abandoned by the Forest Department as 
not being worth conservation and handed to the various Headmen to be used 
1 For this calculation I am indebted to Dr A. W. Rogers. 
