Garies
Town in the magisterial district and division of Namaqualand, on the national road to South-West Africa, 470 km north of Cape Town. The nearestrailhead is at Bitterfontein, 66 km to the south. 30° 34' S., 18° 00'E.; altitude 250 metres; rainfall 125 mm. The weekly luxury bus service of the South African Railways from Cape Town to Karasburg passes through the town. Privately owned bus services connect with trains at the railheadthrice weekly. Population (1970): White 512; Coloured 758; Bantu 66.The town is the seat of an assistant magistrate. The name derives fromthe river flowing past the town. In the Hottentot's language/gari-s means 'couch-grass'. Nearer the sea the river on which thetown is situated is still called Groen-rivier. At one time the village was unofficially named Genisdal in honour of Evert Genis, a schoolteacher of a century ago, but for some reason this name did not survive.The town is administered by a village management board. Like Springbokit is much visited during the wild flower season, particularly duringJuly and August. In the later stages of the Second Anglo-Boer War fighting took place near Garies when Gen. S. G. (Manie) Maritz wasactive in the North-Western Cape.
