1776. January. feveral farmers to equip themfelves for this undertaking. This fcheme they had no great objection to, but could not give me apoiitive anfwer on the fubjedt; and indeed, after a more mature coniideration of the matter I found, that I had neither money nor gunpowder fufficient for the pur- pofe, not to mention many other good reafons which prevented me from putting it into execution. I was therefore obliged, though fore againft my will, to give up all thoughts o f this excuriion; though afterwards I was not very forry at having met with the difappointment, being pretty well convinced, that another year’s fatigue would not have contributed much more to my future happinefs. In the mean while, after an abfence o f five years fpent in travels and voyages to various parts o f the globe, I.imagine it will fcarcely be neceifary to make any excufe for turning my thoughts likewife towards home. Happy i f my humble endeavours ihould excite other naturalifts to purfue the fame path with greater fuccefs, and make us acquainted with the remaining curious and remarkable objects, which are doubtlefs ft ill to be found in the fouthern parts of Africa. Confequently, Agter Bruntjes-hoogte is the northernmoft part that I vifited of the whole colony; and, in my opinion, it is likewife the moft pleafant. There was ftill remaining on the ground, a more meadow-like verdure than is ufually feen in this country; a verdure that owed its exift- ence to the ihelter that was afforded to the foil by the thorny branches of the mimofa nilotica, and was ftill further enlivened by the numerous yellow bloffoms o f that plant. The great quantity of beautiful vemal lilies, together with a peculiar peculiar parafitic plant of a blood-red hue, (defcribed by ja'n7u7a6ry_ me in the Swedifh Tranfadt. for 17 76 , page 307) which U r J were now fpringing out of their beds covered with a more verdant and luxuriant herbage than the other parts of this country, muft doubtlefs in the feafon for their blooming, add ftill more to the fplendour of this delightful fcene. This, however, was not a little augmented by a purling ftream, viz. Little Vifch-rivier, which winds through this fpot in fportive meanders. On its banks, befides cornfields, were feen fcattered up and down orchards and kit- chen-gardens recently laid out, and fome of them cut through with drains. Plantations, which though as yet inconfiderable, feemed, however, to promife every thing to time and induftry*. The houfes, far from intimidating the traveller by their fplendid appearance, with the con- ftrained pomp of antichambers and drawing-rooms, were rather in the ftyle of plain and fimple cottages; but, on the other hand, were environed with the animated embel- liihments of iheep and cattle, and inhabited by people in eafy eircumftances; who, not with interefted views, but with open arms received me and my companion, juft arrived from the dreary and inhofpitable defert, and charmed us with their kind and friendly behaviour. The fuperior degree of fertility, and the more delightful verdure which I found here, ought, perhaps, to be af- cribed to a ridge of mountains on the eaft fide of Little iVifch-rivier, which was interfered by beautiful green vales interfperfed with woods. Thefe mountains, by colledting the ' clouds together, caufed them to fall in refreihing Ihowers of rain on the banks of the river that ran at their feet : and , Y 2 the
27f 72-2
To see the actual publication please follow the link above