3 3 6 CURIOUS LEAVES. — TWILIGHT— DUST. . 2 1 -2 5 S e p t .
The Hook-thorn (Acacia detinens) before described, was found
growing here; and also a beautiful species of acacia of a hoary
complexion, the technical name of which (Acacia atomiphylla) is
taken from its curious and singular leaves, consisting of very minute
leaflets, resembling seeds or atoms, squeezed laterally so close
together as to seem united.
The earth was parched up, and, excepting the corn-fields, no
spot of green any where met the eye. So pleasing a sight as these
fields afford, is a sufficient encouragement for attempting agriculture
in almost any situation; and is one proof that man possesses the
power of creating the most delightful verdure in the midst of
drought and sterility.
‘2‘2nd. This day the length of twilight, as determined, not by
computation, hut, by the actual withdrawing of daylight, was
observed to be nearly one hour and a quarter.
23rd. The ground on which a Hottentot Kraal stands, being
continually trodden by cattle, is always'loose, and, in windy weather,
produces a troublesome and disagreeable dust. Notwithstanding
the wind and dust, which whirled about in clouds, I made a couple
of sketches of the village; and had an opportunity of ascertaining
how very useful, and indeed indispensable, is a drawing-board in
such weather. A traveller will therefore find it well- worth the
trouble of carrying with him some apparatus of the kind.
From the top of the mountain behind the Kraal, there is a
pleasing view of the settlement and the valley; though the prospect
is confined on all sides by mountains. On these rocks, I found several
interesting and new plants; but was soon forced to descend, by the
threatening appearance of thunder clouds, which began suddenly to
collect. I had hardly reached my waggon, when a heavy rain and
Gmel. (var? ocellata, B. Remiges
apicibus obscure oceUatis) L e capo-
cier ? Ois. d’Afr. pl. 129, 130 f. 1.
L e Coriphée, Ois. d’Afr. pl. 120. f. 1.
jMus.cicapa. — L e 'Mignard, Ois .d’Af.
pl. 154.
L'Hirondellefauve, Ois.d’ Af.pl.246f. 1.
FringiUa
Fringilla--------- . Loxia, Linn. ‘
Muscicapa, Species nova.
Vultur percnopterus, Linn.
1811. VIOLENT THUNDER, WIND, AND RAIN. 337
hail commenced, attended by lightning and the most tremendous
peals of thunder. One explosion, in particular, seemed to have taken
place within two hundred yards of us: it sounded like the simultaneous
firing of a dozeh cannons, the effect of which was even increased by the
sound being reiterated in echoes several times repeated, rolling through
the mountains. The wind increased to a furious hurricane; and dust,
sticks, and fine gravel, filled the air. This storm lasted but a quarter of
an hour, and was immediately succeeded by a dead calm; and a cloudless
sky. The thermometer, before the commencement of the rain and
thunder, stood at 79J° (26° •3 C.); during its continuance it fell to
64° (17° -7 .C.), and on the termination rose again to 74° (23° "3 C.)
The weather remained undisturbed and pleasant for three hours;
but at sun-set the hurricane returned with redoubled fury. Nothing,
could exceed the violence of the thunder ; and the vivid glare of the
lightning often blinded us for a whole minute. The rain poured
down, as though it would wash us out of the valley; and the wind
blew with a force that was neat overturning the waggons. This
second tempest lasted half an hour, after which the weather continued
calm and quiet the whole night.
All the sheep having been sent on to Klaarwater, and Captain
Berends, who was to have supplied me with the meat we should
require at the Kloof, being gone on a fortnight’s hunt, we remained
all the day without food. At last, towards evening, a Hottentot
was found willing to sell me a sheep. He volunteered his assistance
in skinning it, and, with a number of his friends, uninvited, joined
our party, and sat till they had consumed the greatest part of it.
24fA Although the thermometer stood at 80° all the middle
of the day; yet, owing to the quick evaporation from the wet earth,
the air was, to bodily feeling, cool. In the middle of the night,
it was only S6J°, and about sunrise not higher than 47J (8° '6 C.)
25th. A Koodoo * was seen, and fired at by my hunters, who
* Antilope strepsiceros, of modern writers. The Hottentot name is written Koedoe,
according to Dutch orthography: Kudu, in German : and Koodoo, or Coodoo, in English.
X X