BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 325 



twenty- two years ago, and deprived of their native soil like 

 many other tribes residing thereabout. They fled into 

 Moshoosa's dominions afterwards, who gave them a suitable 

 tract of land to occupy. The main body of that tribe have 

 concentrated themselves since at this place, and have chosen 

 it as the residence of their chieftain, called Morocco. The 

 town consists of several hundred houses, and upwards of 

 eight thousand inhabitants. A missionary station is attached 

 to this extensive place, belonging to the Wesleyan Mis- 

 sionary Society, where the Rev. R. Giddy was the only 

 missionary at that time, by whose indefatigable exertions it 

 may be expected, civilisation and Christianity will show ere 

 long its beneficial effects over this interesting tribe. The 

 real good effect of the labours of missionaries, however, will 

 be felt more afterwards, when the children of this people 

 have grown up, as it is one of the principal anxieties of that 

 zealous missionary, to foster religious principles and good 

 habits in the minds of the rising generation, that they may 

 become afterwards useful members of society. A printing 

 press is also attached to this station, superintended by Mr. 

 Giddy, who showed us many sheets printed here in the 

 Betchuana language. 



The spacious plain on which the town is built, being con- 

 siderably elevated above the neighbouring plains and valleys 

 below towards south and west, serves as pasturage for their 

 young domestic animals, and for those which they want for 

 daily food or other purposes, and was stocked with many 

 hundreds of several descriptions. Large tracts of fertile soil 

 ln tne valleys and plains below were cultivated to a great 

 e ^tent, and planted with Indian corn, Caffer corn (Sorghum 

 Usorum, N. ab E.), as also with pumpkins, and a small kind 

 °f bean. Other parties of this people, who serve as out- 

 posts, reside at a greater or less distance from the capital. 

 We had placed our waggons and tent at some distance from 

 fc he town, at the western extremity of a long ridge of a hills, 

 opposite the house of the missionary, not wishing to be too 



