96 Alhany Museum. Records. 



spare time being occupied in observations and in making collec- 

 tions. 



In 1880 she took up her abode with her sons on a farm on the 

 Fish River, which she left with them in 1886 for the Witwater- 

 randt goldfields. 



In 1891 she visited Europe for the tirst time since childhood, 

 travelled in England and on the continent, and returned to the 

 Ti-ansvaal in 1892. She visited Natal and Cape Colony at various 

 times during the remaining years of her life and died at Pieter- 

 maritzburg in the montli of August, 1899. 



During her life-time she presented to the Albany Museum her 

 herbarium and her collection of butterflies, and it was therefore 

 judged by her children best to present her paintings also to this 

 institution, where they will find an honorable place amongst the 

 exhiliits and where they will be a means of instruction to many 

 visitors and may even stimulate some to follow in her footsteps. 

 To all who see these pictures it will be a surprise to learn that 

 Mrs. Barber nevei- had any instruction in drawing or painting, yet 

 many of the sami)Ies of her brush which we now fortunately own, 

 could scarcely l)e suri)asssed by a good prof essional artist. Besides 

 painting, Mrs. Barber was fond of music and of poetry. A volume 

 of 50 of her poems ""grave and gay, reflecting clearly the many 

 mental powers and loving true-heartedness of the gifted 

 authoress"(i) was published by her son, Mr. F. H. Barber, in 1898." 

 It was dedicated to her brother. Colonel James Henry Bowker, 

 F.L.S., F.Z.S., who shared her enthusiasm for the study of Natural 

 History. It was entitled '-The Erythrina tree and other verses." 



In the first poem ''The Erythrina Tree " one clearly discerns 

 a longing for the home of her youth which is an ideal place for 

 the naturalist. 



"Bright, glorious Erythrina tree, 

 Remote from cities — near the sea, 

 My winged thoughts have flown to thee. 

 Queen of the woods, I love thee well ; 

 Oh I for a home with thee to dwell 

 For ever in the forest dell." 



Space forbids me giving further extracts from this or other 

 poems, but to lovei-s of Nature the following other poems will 

 specially appeal : "A flower of the Karroo," "The Lay of the 

 Tadpoles," "The Lay of the Frog," "Malvern," and " The Dragon 

 Flies." 



( ') R. Trimen, F.E.S., in the preface to the volume, 



