I discovered nothing that could be fancied to be the remains of
a volcanic crater ; nor is there, I am inclined to think, much reason
for entertaining the idea that such had ever existed. Excepting just
at this spot, all the springs which flow from the Zwarteberg are of
the ordinary temperature ; and, although the bath-hill be of a nature
different from that of the great mountain to which it is connected,
yet, as it also gives rise to a cold spring, it is difficult to avoid
the conclusion, that the cause of heat in this water rnust be very
local. *
I shall not here amuse myself in proposing or supporting
any hypothesis on the cause of hot springs ; but shall confess myself
very much at a loss in attempting to account for the great sub*
terranean operations, of Nature, whose dark recesses in the centre
of our globe are not less out of the pale of observation, than the
wide space beyond the starry system. Is, it may be asked of the
lovers of hypothetical philosophy, the solidity or the cavity of
this sphere, a fact which will ever admit of proof ? or will inortal
sagacity ever ascertain, whether the great space within the terrestrial
shell be inhabited by animated beings, or occupied by
nought but lifeless matter ? The numberless desidei'ata in human
knowledge, either shew us the narrow limits of our faculties and
mental powers, or teach us that there remains yet more to be
known than we have hitherto learnt. The many noble discoveries
and deductions which the divine gift of reason has already enabled
man to make, give him, indeed, a just hope that, by pursuing
an unprejudiced investigation of facts, he may yet arrive at a
* Besides the hot spring at Zwarteberg, and that in Brand Valley, (described hereafter,
on 14th April,) some others have been discovered within the colony; particularly
one in the valley of the Western Elephant’s River ; another near the Easteni Elephant’s
River, in Kamnasi-land ; and a third in the arid country behind Éokman’s (or Kogmatfs)
Kloof: but all are inferior in heat to the two first mentioned. There is also a warm
spring on the northern side of the Gariep, in Great N&maqualand. Springs of mineral
waters, of the common temperature, have been noticed in various places ; one near
Gi'aaff-Reynett, another not far from Uitenhage, and one also in the Tarka : nor is it
improbable that several others, equally remarkable, exist in various parts of the colony.
degree of knowledge far beyond that which he now possesses, or
that which by some it may be imagined possible for the human mind
ever to attain. It is alone by the use of this divine gift, that all
our p V , or true knowledge, in matters of science, has been
obtained: but the wisest must admit that there are bounds by
which the universe of ideas is limited; and here, all must stop. The
wild speculations and unfounded theories of those who go in search of
knowledge without this for their guide, will surely, like the misty
imagery of a dream dispelled by the morning light, vanish at the first
dawn of the light of truth.
No attempts have ever been made to ascertain whether this
mountain, or any part of the surrounding country, produce metals
worth extracting; yet, until the experiment be made, it cannot be
believed that so extensive a colony would not, in some way, repay
its government the expenses of employing a practical mineralogist to
investigate its products, and, by boring or mining in every variety of
situation, to bring to light what may prove worthy of being called,
its' sleeping riches. At least, it is remarkable that the auri sacra fame's
has not stimulated individuals to search for profit below the surface;
and though their labours should not be rewarded with gold, some
other useful substance might be discovered, which could equally well
repay their trouble.
The Bath-house stands close under the small flat hill already
mentioned, and the water is conducted down to it by a covered
channel. The building *, erected in the year 1797, consists only of
See the V.gn'H' at the head of this chapter. This gives a representation of its
,7 T i f “ * 7 * *"• “ fine vIew of >-»nge of hills and mountains of
which the B a b yU m c h ^m is the most remarkable. In the back ground, in the vignette,
is seen a part of the hill from which the hot spring rises. The foreground consists only
ot rough uncultivated ground ,• the art of ornamental gardening being quite unknown in
me colony, unless a few places m the immediate vicinity of Cape Town, should be allowed
a pietension to. i t The trees are young poplars, of the species already noticed as beinw
common in this country; and when they shall have attained a she capable o f affording
s ia e an s ter, this spot will certainly have a more picturesque appearance than it can
at present boast of.