Natural History in Foreign Countries, 429 



to these movements^ and constantly Icept themselves aloof.^^ (^Foreign Qua?'- 

 terly Review^ No. ix. p. 354.) 



AFRICA. 



South African Institution. Aug. 31. 1829. — The following papers were 

 read : — 



1. Remarks on the Advantages of having a Botanic Garden near Cape 

 Town ; by Mr. Bowie. The author, in this communication, pointed out the 

 occurrence of frequent failures and much uncertainty in the transport of 

 living plants to Europe, whether transmitted from the interior of this colony 

 or from countries to the eastward of it, in consequence of there being no 

 such repository here to afford them a temporary resting-place, when cir- 

 cumstances might be unfavourable to then* farther progress. He then 

 noticed the existence of peculiarities in certain classes of Cape plants, which 

 rendered such an establishment particularly to be desired in regard to them ; 

 and having illustrated the general advantages of thus collecting and arrang- 

 ing plants, to afford the means of elucidating their character and affinities, 

 he concluded by remarking the benefits likely to arise from such investi- 

 gations to science, commerce, and domestic economy. 



2. Sketches of the Botany of the Cape District, No. 1 . ; by Mr. Bowie : 

 containing a catalogue of the indigenous plants which may be expected to 

 flower in the month of September ; with remarks on theii- peculiarities, 

 uses, &c. 



3. Observations on the Origin and History of the Bushmen ; by Dr. 

 Smith. In this paper, the writer adduced reasons for believing that bush- 

 men existed even long before Europeans visited South Africa, and that they 

 had possibly been coeval with the Hottentots themselves. He mentioned 

 that communities or families, of a character similar to what we understand 

 by the term " Bushmen," inhabit all the barren wastes of Great Namaqua- 

 land, and conduct themselves, towards the Hottentots and Damaras in their 

 vicinity, exactly as those immediately in advance of our frontier do towards 

 the colonists. It was then stated that the majority of them are decidedly 

 of the genuine Hottentot race ; and, after some very interesting details in 

 regard to their mental character, external physiology, and modes of living, 

 hunting, conducting their depredations, &c., the paper concluded with " an 

 earnest recommendation to such members as may have been in the habit of 

 observing our savage tribes, to embody their remarks for occasions like the 

 present," as tending to personal and general benefit. The reading of four 

 other papers was, from want of time, deferred till next monthly meeting, 

 (South African Advertiser, Sept. 5. 1830.) 



NORTH AMERICA. 



Extensive Coal Fields. — We are informed by a very intelligent American 

 gentleman, recently arrived from the United States, that it is confidently 

 believed that beds of coal of various qualities extend from the central parts 

 of Pennsylvania westward for four hundred mUes, and to a great distance 

 north and south. At present the flourishing manufactures of glass, iron, 

 &c., at Pittsburgh, are supplied from mines in the neighbourhood, which 

 appear exhaustless. To this great repository of coal the United States must 

 look forward for their future prosperity and comfort as a manufacturing 

 nation ; for the immense forests that once covered the eastern states have 

 almost disappeared. The nearest considerable extent of woodland to Phi- 

 ladelphia is- 120 miles distant from that capital. The citizens of the United 

 States are now much on the alert in quest of their hitherto neglected 

 mineral treasures, and a taste for the cultivation of geology is becoming 



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