APR. 1771 BOTANIC AND ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN 437 



of producing a single tree, at least within several miles 

 round the town. By far the largest part of this garden 

 is utilised for producing cabbages, carrots, etc. ; two small 

 squares, however, are set apart for botanical plants, which 

 are well taken care of and neatly kept. At the time we 

 were there the greater part of the plants, as the annuals, 

 bulbs, etc., were underground. Upon the whole, I am of 

 opinion that the number now to be found there will not 

 amount to above half of what they were when Oldenland 

 wrote his Catalogue ; indeed, at that time it is possible that 

 more ground was employed for the purpose. 



At the farther end of the garden is a vivarium or menagerie, 

 supported also at the expense of the Company, where rare 

 beasts and birds are kept. Here were ostriches, cassowaries, 

 antelopes of several kinds, zebras and several other animals 

 seldom or never seen in Europe ; particularly that called by 

 the Hottentots coedoe, whose beautiful spiral horns are often 

 brought over to Europe. This animal, which was as large 

 as a horse, died while we were there, but not before I had 

 time to get a description and drawing of him. 



Near this enclosure is another for birds, in which were 

 the crowned pigeons of Banda, and several more rare birds, 

 especially of the Dutch kind, of which there was indeed 

 a very fine collection. Both birds and beasts were very 

 carefully and well taken care of. 



It remains now, after having described the town and its 

 environs, to say a little of the country about it. Of this, 

 indeed, I can say but little, and even for that little am 

 obliged to depend entirely upon hearsay, not having had an 

 opportunity of making even one excursion, owing in great 

 measure to Dr. Solander's illness. 



The Dutch say that they have settled the country as far 

 as 2000 miles inland, at least that is the distance to the 

 furthest habitations of Europeans : how far it may be, how- 

 ever, in a straight line north and south, is hard to say, nor 

 do they pretend to guess. Supposing it, however, the shortest 

 distance possible, it is sufficient to prove the infinite, and 

 indeed to a European almost inconceivable, barrenness of 



