and others, who bore so strong a family likeness, that I guessed their
n am e s w i th o u t h e s i t a t i o n .*
The weather was exceedingly favorable to our ramble, and we
spent the whole of the day on the mountain top, enjoying the fine
prospect and the freshness -of the air, and gathering amusement at
every step.
Not having any instruments with me, and being desirous of
taking the bearings of the distant objects which were in sight, I supplied
the deficiency in the following manner. Having found a convenient
flat rock, I placed on it a large piece of drawing-paper, and
secured it by bits of stone laid on each corner; then, by the help of
my compass and a long flat ruler, I drew a line on the paper to represent
the magnetic meridian: after which the ruler was brought very
exactly to the bearing of the object, by directing the sight along its
edge; and a line was then drawn by it, all across the paper, to which
was written the name of the object Though nothing can be more
simple than this method, it will be found to be sufficiently correct, and
of some use to a traveller who may happen to have with him no mathematical
instruments; as it combines all the properties of a theodolite,
a protractor, and a field-book, and obviates the possibility of any
great mistake in plotting; for, should there be an error in the meridian
line, occasioned by the magnetic needle being drawn but of its proper
A u la x pinifolia
Xeranthemum canescens
Leucospennum puberum
* Pro tea
Xeranthemum
Erica
Antholyza
Diosma
Serruria
Restio
Leucospermum
Leucodendrum
Lip a ria
Arctotis
Brunia nodiflora
Protea amplexicatdis.
Hydrocotyle
Brunia
Phylica
Gladiolus
Lightfootia
Mesembryanthemtm
Aspalathus
Rhus
Stcebe
Blairia
Cliffbrtia, &c.
direction by ferruginous rocks, the angular distances of the objects
from each other will remain correct. It is not indispensably requisite
that all the lines of bearing should pass through one central point in
the meridian line, as they may at leisure, any time afterwards, be
transferred to a centre by means of a parallel ruler; and, the paper
being then properly placed on the map, the bearings may be pricked
through, by which the purpose of a protractor is answered very accurately.
On this principle, a traveller may construct a simple and portable
instrument, by a circular piece of wood, in the centre of which
is fixed a short pin with a pointed top. On this, at the time of observation,
a piece of paper of the same size is filed; and over it is
fixed a moveable limb with sights, having its fiducial line corresponding
with the centre of the pin. A magnetic needle may be added
to the instrument, if not rendering it too complicated.
Loaded on ail sides with flowers and branches of shrubs, we
descended to the plain ; and those who met us as we were returning
to Tulbagh, might have thought, as in Macbeth, that “ Birnam-wood
was come to Dunsinane.” Night overtook us before we reached the
parsonage, where hospitality and good humour concluded the day.
18iA. My first care this morning was to preserve the botanical
specimens which I collected yesterday; and, as I had not the means
of pressing and drying them in the usual manner between paper, I
tied them carefully up in a large bundle, measuring about three feet
long and a foot in diameter, binding them round as tightly as possible
with twine, and wrapping the whole with strong paper. This
I left to be sent after me to Cape Town by the first opportunity, intending
afterwards to press and dry them properly.
This bundle, however, did not find its way to Cape Town till
more than a twelve'month afterwards, and remained in the same
state for eight years, when, on unpacking it, every specimen was
found to be in as good condition as if it had been dried in
the regular manner, and to be equally fit for every purpose of
scientific investigation. A few, indeed, were the worse for having
been left to shrivel u p ; but many, especially the more hard-leaved
plants, preserved a more natural form than they would have done,