SOUTH AFRICA 209 



was but slightly known. About Cape Town itself and near 

 other older centres of colonization, indeed, many plants had 

 been collected, both by Dutch and English ; but vast tracts of 

 mountain and veldt, for a thousand miles to north and east, 

 were still unexplored. He describes his excitement on landing, 

 and how, after a sleepless night, he started off for the hills early 

 next morning, to revel among strange Ericas, Polygalas, Lobelias, 

 Diosmas, Proteas, and Ixias. He at once settled down to col- 

 lecting with his usual method and energy. From four or five 

 until nine every morning he was at work on the mountains 

 or on the shore ; after which several hours were devoted to 

 preserving the material. Within a few weeks he was engaged 

 on the description of new genera and species, and in three 

 months his herbarium contained 800 species. Already schemes 

 for organized work leading up to publication were in his mind ; 

 and it seemed as if his task lay open before him; but fate willed 

 otherwise. His brother fell ill within a few months of his arrival, 

 and a little later a return to Europe was ordered to no purpose, 

 as Joseph Harvey died on 26 April, a fortnight after sailing, 

 and it was a sad home-coming which the naturalist, who had 

 accompanied the invalid, experienced in the June following. He 

 started again for South Africa a few weeks later, to take up his 

 brother's duties as Colonial Treasurer ; and remained there for 

 three years, when severe illness, brought on by overwork, com- 

 pelled a return home. But he came back, and resumed his 

 strenuous life, spending his days in official duties and his nights 

 at botany, until, in 1842, a complete break-down forced him to 

 resign his post, and leave the country. Seven years of his life 

 were thus devoted to South Africa, and, in spite of the serious 

 inroads on his time and energy caused by two tedious voyages 

 home, as well as by illness when at the Cape, a great amount of 

 botanical work was accomplished. He arranged with collectors 

 for the supply of plants from various parts of the country ; he 

 got the Government interested in the native flora, so that official 

 papers were issued giving instructions for collecting and soliciting 

 specimens ; and Harvey himself devoted so much time to his 

 hobby that he suggests that his title should be Her Majesty's 

 Pleasurer-General, instead of Treasurer-General. Every month 



o. B. 14 



