places, the heat, being of a dry quality, is not so oppressive to bodily
feeling as it would be in England at the same degree. The western
districts are comparatively deficient in trees and water ; while those
lying along the southern coast, beyond Zwellendam, to the furthest
extent eastward, are, on the contrary, well-woeded, and abound in
springs and rivulets; and it may justly be said that the countries
of Auteniquaiand and the Zuureveld are extremely beautiful.
In short, the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, as part of the
British dominions, may be considered an important and valuable
possession; not only in a political and commercial point of view,
but also in the light of a territorial acquisition; and, that any writer,
who has seen the country, should assert otherwise, proves nothing
more than his own want either of observation or of judgment.
CHAPTER IV.
A RIDE THROUGH HOTTENTOT-HOLLAND TO THE WARM-BATH AT ZWARTEBERG.
As it was now certain that my final departure from Cape Town could
not take place before the middle of May, there was sufficient time for a
short excursion into the nearer districts of the colony. This, besides
gratifying my curiosity, would be attended with the advantage of giving
me, previously to my principal journey, some idea of the nature of the
country; and consequently, of enabling me to make my preparatory
arrangements more judiciously, and to form a more correct estimate of
what provision it would be necessary to make. In the present journey
Mr. Polemann was both my companion and my guide, as it was proposed
to direct our course through a part of the country with which he was
acquainted. One of the objects which we had in view, was to purchase
a couple of teams of oxen; because in the immediate vicinity
of the town, there was little chance of meeting with any equal to the
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