together; a construction admirably well adapted for rough and uneven
roads, by admitting each part to play freely, so as completely to avoid
that straining and Cracking to which solid built waggons are subjected
when travelling over irregular ground. The agter stel and voorsteí
are, m their movement, independent of each other; being held
together only by the langwagen, which by its joint, moves either way.
The sides resting on the skammels, lean against the rongs, and are
united to the tilt, only by the ribs which aré elastic and yield to every
motion: they are/besides,each kept in their place by a single thoncr
of raw hide, passing under the end of the after skammel through
two staples in the lower leerboom. The-brick plank simply rests
on the skammels, and is confined in its place only by two pieces of
iron, which pass, one before, and the other behind the after skammel.
The bolt, on which the fore axletree turns, is not rivetted nor pinned
through; by which means it is at liberty to draw out a little upwards
to relieve the rocking of the waggon, when any one of the wheels
is much lifted up by a hillock or other unevenness in the ground.
The preceding description of my waggon, which, although one of
the largest dimensions, was made exactly in the manner of the usual
ox-waggon of the colony, will not only be found useful for showing
how excellently they are constructed for the purpose of travelling over
an uncultivated country, but will, as an excuse for its length, enable
the.reader to comprehend many passages in this journal in which the
mention of the different parts of a waggon cannot but frequently occur.
My undertaking was generally looked upon in'Cape Town
as an imprudent attempt, after the failure of an expedition, in
which, previously to its setting but, every precaution had been
taken, and provision made, to ensure its success; and whose
numbers and strength so much exceeded mine. Notwithstanding
this, a person, who had already expressed some desire to accompany
me, now came seriously to make the proposal, and very
earnestly volunteered his services as my companion and assistant.
He possessed, indeed, qualifications which would have rendered him
both a'useful,and an agreeable associate; yet I sacrificed my inclination
to my judgment, and preferred being quite alone. I
feared those disagreeable, and often fatal, consequences, which arise
from a want of harmony between the members of such an expedition,
too much to suffer myself to listen to my natural wish for a companion.
Yet I must confess that there were often moments during
my subsequent travels in which I severely felt the want of some
companion, whose assistance and advice might have relieved my
daily fatigues, and the anxieties of my mind.
22nd. At this season the weather is generally rainy at the
Cape, although in the present year they set in earlier than usual,
having fallen very abundantly in the months of April and May.
The thermometer in Cape Town during this time, stood ordinarily
about 55° Fahr. (10°2 Reaum; 12°7 Centig.) in the morning, and
64° (14°2 R .; 17°7 C.) in the middle of the day. The winter might
be considered as having already commenced; yet, excepting
these rainy days, it was the most agreeable time of the year;
although, by persons habituated to a warm climate, it might be
accounted rather chilly.
The day being sunny and pleasant, tempted me to take a stroll
on Green-Point. The effect of the late rains was surprising: not
six weeks before, the herbage seemed entirely parched u p ; vegetation
had disappeared, and the plain looked like a barren waste;
but the sterile plain was now changed to a verdant field, and myriads
of gay flowers had started up out of the earth. Those who have
seen this spot only in the summer, would never suppose that a soil
so arid and bare, contained such an astonishing quantity, and such
a great variety of bulbous roots. Blossoms of every color and every
hue were at this time expanded to the genial warmth of the sun,
and in such profusion that, from a little distance, some particular
parts of the plain appeared as if painted red, others white, and others
yellow. It is chiefly to the beautiful tribe of Oxalis that these enlivening
effects are at this season attributable ; but not less so to two
other extremely small and delicate plants,* which, in countless
* Ix ia minuta and Strumaria spiralis. Of the uncertain flowering of many of the
bulbous plants of this colony, the former, among a great many others, may be adduced
as an example; since, by Thunberg, who for three years was indefatigable in collecting
every where near Cape Town, it was considered as a rare plant..