BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 331 



from the ocean, leaving the northern slopes of the hills open, 

 covered with luxuriant-growing pasturage. It is quite en- 

 chanting to a stranger, who rambles towards the top of these 

 rushy or grassy hills, in a southern direction, when he at 

 once beholds before him an extent of dense tropical forest 

 scenery, which he is scarcely able to penetrate. As the air is 

 generally much impregnated with moisture about these de- 

 pressed tracts along the sea-shore, the heat is very iutense 

 during summer, and, consequently, rains fall frequently, 

 giving the freshness and luxury of a tropical vegetation. 



We entered the temporary territory and jurisdiction of the 

 Dutch emigrants immediately after crossing the " Gy Koop,'* 

 or Great Vet River, and it seemed that several difficulties 

 awaited us on its right bank. The emigrants had already- 

 heard of our approach, and that we intended to proceed 

 through their territory towards the interior. As the greater 

 part of them had no idea that we could venture on an ex- 

 pensive journey, only for the sake of science, they evidently 

 suspected us to be spies. They suspected Captain Harris 

 m the same way when he went into the interior. As it 

 happened that I was at that same time on a journey towards 

 the Vaal River, with the intention of entering Moselecatse's 

 territory by that route, many told me that two officers 

 w ent towards the interior, to present Moselecat with two 

 loads of guns and ammunition, in order to enable that chief 

 to attack the emigrants. The fact was, that Moselecat sur- 

 prized and murdered several families of the emigrants some 

 tune before Captain Harris entered that territory. It was also 

 fortunate that the Zoola's army had no fire-arms with them 

 when they made the assault, otherwise they would have the 

 ™ore suspected Captain Harris, who showed himself after- 

 wards to be their impartial friend in bringing before the eyes 

 of the public at home the many grievances which brought 

 them to that desperate resolution, to quit for ever the land 

 °f their birth. Many of them will scarcely dream of the 

 good intentions that officer had in their favour, as they 

 scarcely read any thing except the Holy Scriptures. It hap- 



b b 2 



