any interruption, about one hundred and fifty miles. The Mils
On the northern fide increafing to the height of mountains in
their progrefs to the eaftward, terminate on the plains near
Zwart Kop’s river ; and the great chain of mountains on the
fouth fide runs into the fea near Camtoo’s bay, and emends to
the weitward till it meets the high mountains of Hex river.
Lange Kloof abounds with ftreams o f water and good paftur-
age. The ground throughout confifts of a fine rich foil, and
to almoft all the habitations are good gardens, fruiteries, and
vineyards. Being cónfiderably elevated above the level of the
fea, and fituated in the midft o f mountains, fnow frequently
falls in the winter months, and lies on the ground for a length
of time.
From one end to the other of Lange Kloof there is but one
paflage for waggons over the fouth chain o f mountains, and this
is feldotn made life of, being confiderei among the a o ft formidable
and difficult roads and pafies in the colony. It lies, in
fa£t, over the very fummit o f one of the points in the chain,
called the Duy vil’s kop, or the Devil’s head. We had fifteen
oxen to each waggon, in order to effeit our pafiage of this
mountain. The road was dreadfully fteep and ftoney ; and as
it approached the fummit, where the width of the ridge was not
above fifteen paces, the afcent Was from ftratutti to ftratum of
rock, like a flight of ftairs, Of which foihe of the Heps were not
left than Four feet high. Upon thefe it Was rteceflary to lift
the Waggons by main ftrength. Juft as we reached the fummit,
the weather, which had been remarkably pleafant, the thermometer
meter Handing at y4°, now began to be overcaft, the wind blew
freih, and ihortly after an immenfe iheet of black vapor was
obferved to approach, borne upon the fouth-eaft wind from the
fea. Afcending rapidly in rolling volumes, it completely im-
merfed us upon the fummit of thé mountain. The temperature
of . the air was immediately decreafed to 39° of Fahrenheit.
Before our three waggons had got over the higheft peak,
the weather began to clear up, and it was then curious enough
to obferve that part of the country between the mountains and
the fea involved in denfe clouds, and deluged apparently with
heavy rain, whilft the northern fide of the fame mountains
enjoyed a funihine unfullied by a fingle cloud.
The inftability of the climate of the fouthern angle of Africa,
has frequently been noticed in the courfe of thefe iketches ;
yet a more remarkable inftance of it had not perhaps occurred
.than in the prefent fituation. An elevation of about one thou-
fand feet, or little more, produced a variation of temperature,
in the. courfe of two hours, equal to thirty-five degrees. It
afterwards appeared, that, on the fame day, being the longeft
in the year, fnow had fallen and lain for feme time upon the
fame chain of mountains, clofe behind Zwellendam, where it is
not particularly lofty.
The defcent of the Duyvil’s kop was much more gradual
than had been the afcent, and the fmooth grafiy furface o f the
northern fide was now changed into an extenfive ihrubbery,
among which the moft confpicuous plants were heaths and proteas
of amazing fizes ; one of the latter having a round thick
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