of mint, having a very pleasant smell, grows here by the water, and is
a plant frequently met with in similar situations, both on this, and
on the southern side of the Gariep ; and it deserves remark, that it
has been found to endure the hardest winters of England equally
well with any of the British species.
At noon our waggons began to ascend the mountain, and safely
reached the top of the pass, without any of the difficulty which had
been expected. From the summit, the view to the southward was
most extensive, and much resembling the prospect from the top of
the Roggeveld mountain, looking over the Karro. The country
beyond the Yellow River, appeared at this elevation and distance to
be flat; but hills of moderate height could not have been distinguished
through the blue vapor of so great a depth of atmosphere.
From such situations, a country may appear level to the eye of the
spectator, which, in reality, is far otherwise, but a little experience
will be sufficient to caution the traveller against forming his opinion
under such circumstances.
Having gained the summit of the mountain, the country was
found level and open, and without any descent on that side. Just
above the pass, are the springs already mentioned ; copious rills of
clear water were flowing in every direction ; and one of them,
issuing from out of a rock, was colder than the others. The surrounding
soil abounded in Wilde Knoflook (Wild Garlick) *, the
smell of which, as we walked over it, was strong and disagreeable,
and remarkably like garlick; but towards evening the flowers give
out a sweet and pleasant odor.
Knowing from my observations, that the latitude of this place
was nearly the same as that of Klaarwater, I had now an opportunity
of-convincing the Hottentots of the value and utility of my
compass, of which, I recollected, they had a few months ago some
doubts. By the aid of this instrument, I placed a long stick on
the ground, exactly in the direction of west; and told them
* ITulbagliia alliacea.
that, although, as they knew, I was not in the least acquainted
with the road we were about to take, that little box showed that
Klaarwater lay just where that stick pointed to. On this they set
themselves to consider very attentively where the village was situated.
Some pointed in one direction, some in another; and
it was amusing to observe how much each prided himself upon
being correct; this kind of knowledge being, among Hottentots,
held as an accomplishment, and one which they all endeavour to
acquire. Those who differed widely from the general bearing, were
much laughed at, and made the subject of some Hottentot jokes,
but every thing was said in perfect good humour.
This little trial of skill afforded us a short diversion, and as
the most experienced amongst them pointed to the same quarter as
my stick, the compass was viewed as a most wonderful thing, and
gained, the greatest attention and respect; while at the same time,
I came in myself for a share.
This incident was not forgotten, when some time afterwards I
had occasion to propose an expedition through an unknown part of
the country, in which I engaged to show the way.
The country we passed over this day presented no new or remarkable
feature; it was flat and open; the surface very rocky,
although covered with grass and shrubs, few of which were new
to me *. Below the mountain the superstratum every where is
a deep fertile mould; but above, and in general all the way to
Klaarwater, the ground is a hard rock, quite bare in many places,
or but thinly covered with earth. It would seem, therefore, that the
soil of the lower country is strictly alluvial, and has been washed
down from the plains above.
After travelling two and twenty miles, till a quarter before
eight, when it began to grow dark, and the rain, which had been
* Olea Chrysocoma
Reseda dipetala. var ? Cat. Geogr. 1828. Gomphocarpus
Mentha, 2 sp. Btyonia
CarexJlavescens. B. Cat. Geogr. 1831.