over cattle and heavy carriages. It may be described as a floating
platform, with rails at the sides, and having its ends rising on hinges
so as to lie at all times flat on the shore. It was sufficiently capacious
to carry over my waggon with eight oxen, and six men, at one time.
It was hauled to and fro, by means of a strong rope, strained from
one bank of the river to the other, and was managed by a couple of
men with great ease. The tolls were one rix-dollar for each waggon,
with its oxen and men; and one schelling for every single ox, and
for each foot passengef. The ferry belongs to government, but was
farmed to a neighbouring boor.
The landscape here is rich and fertile: the beautiful flat country
of Wagenmaker’s Valley and Drakenstein, enlivened with numerous
farm-houses, lay extended before us, bounded by a fine range of
mountains, a part of the great western chain. The ground is well
covered with vegetation, and abounds with shrubs. Very large bushes
of Karree-hout *, which, in growth and foliage, have a great resemblance
to our common willows, grow along the banks.
After crossing the river, and travelling till dark, we arrived at
the house of a wine-boor, named Marais, a man of a religious turn,
and a friend of my fellow-travellers; where we were well received.
24th. This house was situated near the Berg-river, and a part
of the vineyard was pointed out, where an acre or two of the soil
had been completely swept away by the flood; the stream at this
place having lately found a new course.
After taking dinner with the family, we departed, directing
our way over an open heathy country till evening, f The brightness
of moonlight enabled us to proceed with as much safety as
by day ; yet the necessity of travelling in the night is always to be
regretted, because the views of a country, obtained in passing through
it under such circumstances, seldom leave a correct impression on
* Rhus vimiiialisy L.
f In this day’s journey I frequently met with Tetragonia hhisuta, a curious little
annual plant with small yellow flowers.