Between the trees and bushes which clothe the bank of the
river, a species of Asparagus is every where found, climbing and entwining,
so that I could not without difficulty force a way through
them. On this plant I found feeding, two handsome insects of the
genus Mylabris; to one of which I assigned the name of Mylab'is
asparagi, as I never met with it but on that plant. The other hardly
varied from Mylabris bifasciata, except in its greater size, and the
evenness of its broad yellow bands.
Here, for the first time, I saw a large tree of picturesque
growth and thin foliage, called by the Hottentots of Klaarwater,
Roodeblat (Red-leaf)*, on account of the beautiful crimson color
which the leaves assume at the autumnal season, or, rather, season
of fading: in which circumstance it remarkably agrees with the
Indian Almond (Terminalia Catappa), a well-known tree of the same
genus. It grows to the height of forty feet, with several crooked'
spreading trunks, from one to two feet in diameter, covered with a
smooth white or pale greenish bark. It was met with only on the
banks of the Ky-gariep, and was not a tree of very frequent occurrence.
* Terminalia erythrophylla. Catal. Geogr. 1749. Folia acutè ovata integerrima
glabra. Ramuli juriiores pubescentes. Flores omnes hermaphroditi octandri. Calyx
quadridèntatus. Racemi breves ovati.
Here I also added to my herbarium
Pentzia nana. Catal. Geogr. 1731. Asparagus rivalis. B.
Fruticulus vix semi-pedalis. Folia Rkigozum
deltoTdea sericea, 2—6-dentata. Flores Buchnera
longissimè pedunculati solitarii ter- Belhania?
minales. Uniola
Corchoms asplenifolius. Cat.Geogr. 1737. Vahlia
Folia elongate ovata, crenato-serrata, Phlomis
serraturis simplicibus. Pedunculus PhyUanthus
oppositifolius. Capsula 4-florus. Ala- Galenia
bastra sub-globosa linearis torulosa. Pappophonm
Polygala leptophylla. Cat. Geogr. 1740. Lessertia, &c.
Flores spicati nutantes subherbacei.
Folia linearia obtusa glabra. Affinis
P. <
29th. As the oxen appeared much strengthened from having
grazed all the forenoon on the delightful fresh grass which grew
along the banks, we ventured to resume our journey, though the
heat of the weather this day was not less oppressive than it had been
on the preceding. Before two in the afternoon, the thermometer
had already risen to 98° (36°*6 Centig.) It was 94° at a little after
one, the time when we set out. Striking out into the open plain, we
quitted the river, and travelled about ten miles over a country
covered with dry grass and bushes.
The dogs, to avoid the violent heat of the sun, ran along beneath
the shade of the waggon; but my poor unfortunate little
terrier, through some mismanagement of his own as he ran by
the side of the wheel, suffered his foot to be run over, and had
scarcely time to utter a cry- before his head was crushed. The
first notice I received of the accident was the lifeless body of
my faithful little dog, brought to me. by one of the Hottentots.
Although it was but an animal, I could not help feeling a shock,
and shall not be ashamed to confess that this sad occurrence prevented
all further enjoyment for the rest of the day. Such misfortunes
are, from the cause just explained, not unfrequent in hot
weather ;■ and during the journey from Cape Town, several dogs
of the caravan were lost in this manner.
Our guides, instead of conducting me to the confluence of the
Maap, brought me, to suit their own purposes, to a part of the river
where the mat-rush grew in great abundance; expecting thus to per-,
suade me to stop here several day s, till the rush-gatherers had
finished their work. But as they found I would not agree to this,
the spot offering, to me at least, no temptations to remain, they left
behind the party of women, amounting to about a dozen, with two
of the waggons, and some men for their protection.
We continued our way by the side of the river for seven miles,
till we arrived opposite to the Maap, where, after reconnoitring the.
spot, we safely brought the waggons down the steep bank, and took
up a station on the bank of the Yellow River (Ky-gariep), in a de-
3 F