before or since. Of that very curious flower, Codon Royeni, I saw
but one plant ; and of this I brought away the whole. It is a
remarkable coincidence, which, not having in my waggon any books
of travels, I was not aware of at the time, that Thunberg should also
have met with no more than a single plant, although anxious to procure
more. * Geranium spinosum, with a fleshy stem and large white
flowers, was more abundant, and well deserved its name; and a
succulent species of Pelargonium was so defended by the old panicles,
grown to hard woody thorns, that no cattle could browze upon it.
In this arid country, where every juicy vegetable would soon be
eaten up by the wild animals, the Great Creating Power, with all-
provident wisdom, has given to such plants either an acrid or poisonous
juice, or sharp thorns, to preserve the species from annihilation
in those regions, where, for good and wise purposes, they have been
placed. The harmony which pervades every part of the universe, is
not less wonderful and beautiful in the distribution of animals and
vegetables over the face of the globe, than in the planetary system,
and in the sublime arrangement of myriads of worlds throughout the
inconceivable infinity of space. When we permit ourselves to contemplate
the great designs of the creation, all our boasted knowledge
of Nature appears only as the ideas and the knowledge of children.
Too intent on some little parts of the edifice, we often remain totally
ignorant of the proportions and perfect symmetry of the whole. In
the wide system of created objects, nothing is wanting, nothing is
superfluous:, the smallest weed or insect is as indispensably necessary
to the general good, as the largest object we behold. Each has
its peculiar part to perform, conducive ultimately to the well-being
of all. Nothing more bespeaks a littleness of mind, and a narrowness
of ideas, than the admiring of a production of Nature, merely
for its magnitude, or the despising of one, merely for its minuteness:
nothing more erroneous than to regard as useless, all that does not
visibly tend to the benefit of man.
* Thunberg’s Travels, vol. ii. p. 147.
At about four o’clock we again put the thirsty oxen to the waggons;
and just as we were moving off, two men, mounted on oxen,
rode up to us. They were Bushmen belonging to a kraal * near the
Zak river. The people of this horde being in amity with the boors,
were therefore denominated Maklce Boschjesmans (Tame Bushmen).
One of them, who was called their Captain, carried in his hand the
ensign of his authority, a staff about four feet long, having a large
tabular top of brass, on which were inscribed a few words, showing
that he had been elevated to that rank by Governor Caledon.
A number of these staves have been given away, as well by the
English as by the Dutch government, mostly to Hottentot chiefs.
They are, together with the influence pertaining to them, handed
down from father to son, conformably to the right of inheritance; and
the possessor is always acknowledged as the head, and, with the Cape
authorities, the lawful representative of his own particular kraal or
tribe; and therefore has, or ought to have, some degree of consideration
shown to him by the landdrosts and field-cornets. This act of
policy in the colonial government has, in most cases, the effect of
securing the allegiance and friendly disposition of these kraals, especially
as it is often, perhaps always, accompanied by a certain annual
stipend or present
These two Bushmen, as they told us, had been employed by the
farmers residing on the Zak river, to carry a letter to the landdrost
of Tulbagh, requesting assistance and protection against the above-
mentioned party of Caffres, whose threats of a hostile attack had
induced them to desert their habitations. This captain, whose kraal
were also sufferers from the Caffres, was now on his return with
the landdrost’s answer; but was at this place deviating somewhat
from his direct road, in order to fetch a pack-ox, which, in his
former journey, being over-fatigued, he had been obliged to leave by
the way. After giving us this information, and promising to join us
* A Hottentot word, used, properly, for signifying a village, or horde.
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