, „ TH E LION’S HEAD. 29 N ov— 5 D ie . Id
occurrence in this colony, and signifying a'pass, either over or
between mountains, and often a deep ravine down the side of a
. mountain. Here there is a commanding view1 of the whole town,
looking down the streets, which from this spot exhibit their regularity
very remarkably.
In the opposite direction is a view of Camps Bay (or, more properly,
Van Camps Bay); but instead of descending to it, we continued
at a considerable elevation, along a road leading round the Lion’s
Head, having all the way a fine view of the sea on our left, and on
our right the rising slope of the mountain, covered with low scattered
bushes. All that I had pictured to myself of the riches of the Cape
in botany, was far surpassed by what I saw in this day s walk. At
every step a different plant appeared; and it is not an exaggerated
description, if it should be compared to a botanic garden, neglected
and left to grow to a state of nature; so great was the variety every
where to be met with.
After having been so long confined to a ship, without taking
much exercise, I felt a little fatigued, and we rested at a pleasant cottage
belonging to Mr. Beck. We were told that a few days ago a
tiger [Felis Leopardus) had been shot near this place; but this
was mentioned as an extraordinary occurrence, this animal very
seldom venturing so near to Cape Town. Continuing our walk
homewards, night overtook us, and put an end to further observation
; but by the light of the moon, enough could be discovered
to raise my curiosity, and excite a strong wish soon to return and
examine the road by day-light. We did not reach home till nine
o’clock, although the walk had not, perhaps, exceeded nine miles.
Dec. 1st — 4th. I every day became more sensible of my good
fortune in having taken up my abode under the hospitable roof of
Mr. Hesse. A congenial love of the works of nature, added to his
learning and acquirements, rendered his society delightful, and
ripened my acquaintance with him into a cordial and lasting friendship.
He entered into my views in visiting Africa, and was
anxious to assist me by advice, the result of long experience
1810. LEEUWENHOF. 1 7
at the Cape. Through him I became acquainted with many of the
most respectable Dutch families, whose civilities contributed much
to render Cape Town so agreeable to me. His friend Polemann, who
like himself was a lover of natural history, caught the same warmth
o f f r i e n d s h i p , and, by his knowledge of the colony and its customs,
greatly facilitated my preparations.
5th. Having determined on taking a day’s ramble, with a view
to exploring and collecting the productions of the fields and hills, I
set out early in the morning, accompanied only by a slave-boy to
carry my boxes, and bent my steps southerly through the town,
passing the very pleasant villa of Leeuwenhof, the residence of
Mr. Zorn, the Landdrost of the Cape District. Between this place
and Table Mountain, I found an excellent field for my researches,
the land being but little cultivated, and nearly in a state of nature.
Here the vegetation differed in its character, from that which
I had already observed on the sides of the Lion Mountain. As
I walked ajong in the midst of the variety and profusion, I could not
for some time divest myself of feelings of regret, that at every step
my foot crushed some beautiful plant; for it is not easy, at ones
first walks in this country, to lay aside a kind of respect with which
one is accustomed, in Europe, to treat the Proteas, the Ericas, the
Pelargoniums, the Chironias, the Royenas, &c. It was now the dry
season, and, therefore, not a favourable time for the botanist;
most plants having ceased flowering, while many of the bulbous
and herbaceous kind, had disappeared altogether.
Coming to a very pleasant spot by the side of a brook of clear
water, which ran from Table Mountain, we sat down under some
beautiful Silver-trees *, which shaded us from a very hot sun: here we
opened our basket and took breakfast. 'After this we bent our course
north-westerly, continuing to collect, as it were, with both hands.
The beautiful little Certhia (Nectarinia) chalybea, flying from
flower to flower, was frequently seen; and, by its rich and gay
# Leucadendrum argenteum, the Protea argentea of Linnaeus. See the Vignette at the
end of this Chapter, where it is represented in the proportion of one-third of the natural
size.
D