every thing we passed, caught at last some feelings of botanical pleasure,
and good-naturedly plucked for me every showy flower he saw;
and among them some which otherwise might, perhaps, have escaped
my notice. The weather was exceedingly pleasant, and, at this spot,
quite serene, although at Cape Town a disagreeable south-easter continued
blowing the whole day. I could have passed many hours in
this charming spot, and the evening wduld have come on before I
should have strayed a mile from it, or have discovered half the
plants it produced; but Mr. Hesse and part of his family having appointed
to meet me at Paradise, I hastened away. I, however, could
scarcely be a loser by doing so, as I found the remaining part of the
way equally rich in variety. The country by degrees assumed a less
cultivated appearance, and the number of whitened villas diminished
in proportion as we advanced.
In approaching the end of our journey, we ascended a considerable
way up the foot of the mountains. Here we found Paradise, a
very picturesque spot, embosomed in woods. Owing to this elevated
a n d woody-situation, the air felt several degrees cooler than on the
open plains below. Here and there, through the boughs of the
trees, a beautiful and extensive prospect opened over the Cape Flats
(Kaapsche Vlakte). The name of this place is derived from its pleasant
situation, and abundance of trees. The only building here was
a dilapidated cottage, inhabited by a person placed in charge of the
woods. I intended to have taken my dinner under the shade of some
fine oak-trees; but Jak, supposing that I should prefer a house to the
open air, had asked leave of the mistress of the cottage, that he might
unpack the basket and spread our provisions within doors; and, as
soon as this was done, came running to me in the woods, where I
was busily employed, to tell me that dinner was ready.
The meal was just finished when the expected party arrived.
On foot we were able to advance much higher up the mountain, and
penetrate deeper into the woods, which consisted wholly of indigenous
trees in a state of nature, and of which some large pieces of
timber were still standing, having escaped the axe merely by growing
in situations difficult of access. We had no time to examine these
woody ravines, as the evening was fast approaching, and a slave was
sent to let us know that the carriage was ready to take us home.
I quitted this place with the more regret, as I'did not expect to have
an opportunity of visiting it again: and I have been since informed
by Mr. Polemann, that the woody kloofs, or ravines in this range,
contain many of the forest trees and other plants which, according
to common opinion, are only to be found in more distant parts of the
colony. *
* This day’s'collection amounted to 104 species; among which were found on the
road near to Cape Town,
Serpiada ntbicunda. Cat. Geog. 404. Folia Osteospermum imbricatum
linearia opposita integirrima glabra: plan- Chironiafrutescens
ta minuta; S. repente multoties minor. Lobelia secunda.
Between Newlands and Paradise, the following may be seen, together with a surprising
variety of other plants, growing in all their wild beauty; some in heathy places,
some between the shrubs and bushes, and others in the woods and shady places.
In heathy places grow, —
Cyclopia genistoides
Restio tetragonus
Hydrocotyle virgata
CEnanthe inebrians
Thesium strictum
Penaea mucronata
Selago rapunculoides ■
Polygala Garcini. De C.
Andropogon hirtus. Th.
Arnica piloselloides
Psoralea capitata.
In shrubby and bushy places, -
Borbonia ciliata
Arctoiis dentata
StruthiolajuniperinaJ’
Cassytha Jiliformis
Thesium strictum
Cynanchumfliforme
Scabiosa rigida
Phylica piumosa
Montinia acris.
In woods and shady places, —
Schizaea pedinata
Geranium incanum
PasserinaJUiformis
Gnidia sericea
Lythrum Hyssopifolia! perhaps accidentally
introduced from Europe.
Brabeium stellatifolium ■
Adiantum Ethiopicum
Blechnum australe
Grnaphalium fcetidum.
By the road-side, —
PoaJiliformis
Dactylis serrata
■ Verbena officinalis! perhaps accidentally
introduced from Europe.
Hibiscus gossypinus ?
Psoralea decumb’ens.
At Paradise, in the wood, under the mountain,
—
Aspidium Capense
Todea Africana
Halleria lucida.
Asparagus scandens
Bryonia punctata ?
Alchemilla Capensis
Aspidium acideatum ?
Indigqferaflifolia
Kmmltonia vesicatoria
Grevoia occidentalis
Juncus Capensis.