almost be called hoofs ; and which seem to be used only for scratching
away the earth, for which office-they are well suited; although such
an application of the hind legs is a singular anomaly, and not easily,
to be explained, without having had a more favorable opportunity
of watching their mode of life. In this manner, it does, in fact, use
them dexterously and expeditiously; making deep burrows, in which
it lies concealed all day. As it comes out to feed only by night, it
is an animal not so well known from its form and appearance, as
from its operations. It inhabits the neighbourhood o f mountains,
whose rocky sides afford them a greater protection than the plains,
where they may be easily overtaken by dogs, or other carnivorous
animals. No construction can be better suited for ascending, nob
any worse for descending, a steep. There must, therefore, one would
imagine, be some singular management on the part of an animal so
formed, and at the same time inhabiting such places. It is sometimes,
though less frequently, called the Berg-haas (Mountain Hare).
A violent west wind continuing the whole day, rendered the air
extremely chilly; and in the evening, soon after sunset, it became so
cold, that our thickest clothing could not keep us warm. The summer
being now far advanced, such weather was not to be expected;
but it is, however, not unusual.
December 1th. While sitting employed in the waggon, a sudden
crack excited my attention; and on turning to the spot whence
it proceeded, I perceived the upper joint of the flute split from one
end to the other. At the moment, I could not but view this as an
accident particularly unfortunate, supposing myself deprived, for the
rest of my travels, of the amusement, and, I might say, the consolation,
of that instrument; but the metal tube within, saved it
from being rendered useless. It was, however, this tube which
occasioned the accident, by expanding from the heat and dryness of
the air, while the woodwork on the outside contracted from the
same cause.
It is the wind, more especially, which produces this effect on
wood; and in this climate care should be taken that nothing be left
exposed to its influence. It was, on this account, highly necessary
to keep the wheels and various parts of the waggons covered with
ta r; a work which had been completed only the day before. It would
be difficult for a person, accustomed only to the. air of England, to
conceive a just idea of the excessive dryness of the atmosphere thus
far in the interior of the most arid continent of the globe.. The
effects of it were visible in every thing around u s: the dry grass
crackled under our feet; and even my finger-nails were at such
times rendered exceedingly brittle. In many cases this state of the
air had its advantages; and in one, it was particularly useful: in the
drying of my plants. But here it rather exceeeded my wishes, and
caused my specimens sometimes to be so brittle, that they required
the greatest care in handling.
8th. I was requested to visit one of the huts of the village, to
see an infant whose foot had been scalded in our journey from the
Cape. From bad management, it was now in a deplorable state; much
swelled, and covered up with dirt and grease. It had already lost its
great toe, and it appeared as if the rest would soon share the same
fate. . From ignorance or carelessness, the wound had been much
neglected, though the mother seemed naturally distressed at the
child’s situation; but she, like many others, imagined that any thing
in the shape of medicine would effect the cure, without the necessity
for thought or common sense. The missionaries had supplied her
with a plaster, to which her neglect had added filth and dirt, Wherever
I was called upon to act the part of a medical adviser, I
never failed strongly to preach to these poor creatures the doctrine
of cleanliness; and this, in fact, was the whole of my advice in the
present case: merely recommending her to leave off all the grease,
and wash it with a decoction of Artemisia afra. The consequence
was, that in a fortnight afterwards the foot began to heal.
9th. Excepting in the missionaries’ garden, there was but one
tree * in the whole village; and that one was sufficiently thriving and
ornamental to have encouraged any but the indolent Hottentot to
» This may be seen in the eighth plate, just above the waggon and oxen.
3 R