19 

 gth Fehi/ary, igo6. 



Professor Symington, M.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.E., President, 

 in the chair. 



WITH THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION IN AFRICA, 



By John Brown, F.R.S. 



(Abstract). 



To attempt to give in one evening anything more than a few salient 

 impressions of a trip of 20,000 miles over land and sea would be 

 impracticable. Quite the strongest impression remaining is that 

 of the extraordinary cordiality and hospitality of our colonial 

 cousins. Too much cannot be said for the careful forethought and 

 organising power shown by the local stewards in their arrangements 

 for entertaining a party of 376. 



The members went out chiefly in two ships of the Union-Castle 

 line, the Saxon and the Durham Castle. After the delightful 

 voyage with its tropical seas, fishes, and birds, we had to awaken 

 from the pleasant dreamy days on the ocean to land at Capetown. 

 The members of the official party were hospitably entertained by 

 the chief residents; the Hon. C. Dempers, a member of the Upper 

 House of the Cape Parliament being "mine host." 



Capetown is of course a quite old, settled, and flourishing city, 

 set in most picturesque surroundings, within easy reach by driving, 

 walking, or electric trams. The views from the summit of Table 

 Mountain are very fine. A reception at the Royal Observatory 

 was also interesting. The place was established by Royal charter 

 in 1820. The site is not ideal, but it was the only available English 

 possession at that time in the Southern Hemisphere. The gardens 

 and botanical museums are most interesting, and the new City 

 Hall a very fine building; in fact, all over South Africa one is 

 struck by the size and excellence of the public halls available. 



