260 
Continent at its south-east angle, where it begins to take a 
northerly direction. It of course lies entirely open to the . 
winds that set in from the south-east; though, it may be 
remarked in passing, that these winds are neither so frequent 
nor so violent as they are in Table Bay: on the contrary, 
the westerly winds prevail there throughout the year. 
* The Bay is surrounded by a ridge of low sand-hills, or 
rather banks, clothed with a great variety of prickly shrubs; 
and the country behind spreads out in a level plain, ter- 
minating, at the distance of twelve or fifteen miles, in lofty 
mountains. From these mountains, a range of forest stretches: 
as far as Plettenberg’s Bay, distant nearly two hundred 
miles. A great variety of valuable timber grows along this 
tract of coast, from which the indolence or apathy of the 
Dutch Government. prevented the colonists from deriving 
any considerable benefit. The only species of timber that 
has been introduced into common use is the Geel Kout, Taxus 
(Podocarpus) elongata, which is employed in house-building. 
For furniture, they occasionally use Stink Hout (Laurus teter- 
rima ?), though the execrable odour it diffuses for some time 
after it has been worked, forms a well-grounded objection 
to its general adoption. It possesses the colour, hardness, 
and durability of the heart of oak. | 
* Many of the indigenous plants of the Colony would pro- 
bably be found endowed with valuable properties, if requisite 
Means were employed to investigate them; but no steps to 
this effect have hitherto been taken. The gross ignorance 
of the peasantry utterly disqualifies them for researches of 
this nature; and it has been the policy of the Dutch 
Government to repress all attempts at discovery; DOF has 
the British, which succeeded, shown itself more friendly to 
the scheme, Yet it is surely the policy of every government 
that obtains possession of an unexplored territory, to embrace 
the earliest opportunity of investigating itsnatural productions. 
ue expense attending such an undertaking can never form 
a serious obstacle. Numbers will be found in every © 
munity who would take it in hand without any emolument 
but as an object of honourable distinction. | 
