8 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



of the Quinta Yigia (Angiice : The house and 

 garden of the "watch-tower) and to one of the 

 most lo^'ely gardens I ha\'e ever set eyes on. 

 Imagine the contents of tlie conservatories and 

 greenhouses of Tring Park, of Waddesdon, of 

 Blenheim, Chatsworth, or Floors castle, all con- 

 centrated into a small space of some two aci-es, 

 and groAving with apparent wildness in the open 

 air. For accumulated varietv and jn'ofusion of 

 bloom, fragrance, and luxuriant foliage, dra"\vn 

 from every quarter of the Avorld, this garden can 

 have no yWh], and I have seen many, at home and 

 in foreign countries. The gateway is sheltered 

 by two remarkable camphor-trees, the leaves 

 of "which, when crushed in the hand, give off 

 an aromatic and spicy perfume. On the terrace, 

 overlooking the sea, one perceives, on the right 

 hand, an immense mass of l)lue blossom, borne 

 by the " Jacaranda.*' On the left a similar 

 mass of deep crimscfti blossom draAvs attention 

 to a splendid " Schotia." Tavo large trees, bv 

 name " Grevillia," coAcred with yelloAv flowers, 

 offer a stsu'tlino; but aiiTeeal)le contrast, ^[anv 

 tine specimens of the " dragon-tree " and of 

 the " umbrella -palm ' are studded about the 

 ground. The " Strelitzia regin^e," apparently a 

 sort of banana, is imposing from its size and its 

 feathering leaves. The " peacock-tree '" (Poinciana 

 pulcherrima), with its lovely blossom, attracts the 

 hand of the wanton flower-gatherer, and the eye 

 is in reality dazzled by the extraordinary, but not 

 inharmonious profusion of the " rose-apple "" tree, 



