IN SOUTH AFRICA. 29 
Jagersbosch said that they had had no such rain for the last 
two years. We were lucky to be caught by it in such good 
quarters, for the house was a comfortable one, and our 
hostess, Mrs. Meeding, a jolly, good-humoured, hospitable 
woman, who laughed vociferously at every thing, and at 
nothing. 
April 4,—I spent the 4th very pleasantly in rambling over 
the hills near Jagersbosch, among which I found some pretty 
and romantic nooks, though the general aspect of the country 
is very uninviting. I was much struck with the appearance 
of one of these secluded hollows, which was as pleasingly 
wild and picturesque’a spot as any I had yet seen in the 
colony ; a deep, still, dark pool of water reflected with the 
most perfect distinctness the high and shattered walls of 
sandstone rock by which it was almost enclosed; these 
rocks, broken in some places into the likeness of rude steps, 
were adorned with tall Aloes, with the large palm-like leaves 
of the Zamia (Note F), or Caffer-bread, and with a variety of 
heath.like shrubs ; the rugged hills seemed to close in upon 
the narrow ravine which formed the only outlet to this 
hollow; nowhere could be discerned a trace of the presence 
or operations of man. No doubt this scene which made so 
much impression on me, like a green spot in a desert, owed 
a good part of its charm to the force of contrast. 
The hills near Jagersbosch abound with the small tree 
called Wagenboom,* which was indeed common in many 
parts of the country we had traversed, but this was the first 
time I saw it in flower. It is one of the largest kinds of 
Protea, for though it does not attain such a height as the Silver- 
tree, it is fully as thick in the trunk; its flower-heads, of a 
delicate straw-colour, measure five inches across; its pecu- 
liarly grey foliage, and crooked and twisted mode of growth, 
give it a certain general resemblance to the Olive-tree. Its 
name is derived from the use made of its wood, for waggon- 
wheels and the like. A beautiful Sugar-bird,t of a golden - 
* Protea grandiflora. 
t Le sucrier à plastron rouge, of Le Vaillant. 
