xxxvi Prp^idp}it\ ArMrpsf<. [Ji^ty ^^y 



whom the Landdrost had allotted to him as a servant. He lamented 

 anew the loss of his collection of dried plants, and cursed the Kafir 

 marauders because they had deprived him of the pleasure of inter- 

 esting me therewith. I was, he said, the first botanist he had seen 

 for many years, and if he could have the same pleasure once a year, 

 life would seem much less tedious to him, for his only recreation was 

 walking out several times a day, supported by the arm of his black 

 attendant. I stayed more than an hour with him, and was really 

 affected on parting with this venerable old man." 



Thus far Lichtenstein. I should not have ventured to transcribe so 

 long a passage, for all its kindly honhommie, were it not that, despite 

 Thunberg's wish to commemorate the good old Auge for all time by 

 his Augea, Dr. Harvey had absolutely forgotten him, and, under that 

 genus, writes : '' Name unexplained by Thunberg." AVell, since it is 

 question whether Cheops or Cephrenes was architect of either pyramid 

 that bears his name, it is small wonder that this curious succulent 

 annual of the Karroo should have failed to give Lichtenstein' s aged 

 acquaintance the little immortality that rewards botanists. C) 



I think it will be evident how from about the year 1640 to 1770 a 

 continual exodus of Cape plants was taking place, for the most part 

 through the public spirit of the leading citizens of Amsterdam and 

 Leiden, who were anxious to enrich their own and the public gardens of 

 their native cities, and by perpetual solicitations kept the Dutch Gover- 

 nors of the Cape settlement interested in their horticultural work. (") 

 But we now come to the period of the great collectors, who may be 

 said to have over-run and conquered South Africa for science. The first 

 o£ these is Carl Pehr Thunberg, a man truly worthy to be called the 

 Father of Cape Botany. He was born at Jonkoping, in Sweden, 

 November 11th, 1743. His father Johan Thunberg, was a merchant 

 of that place, and, dying before his son had attained man's estate, his 

 widow married his partner in the firm, Gabriel Forsberg. After the 

 usual course of education at the grammar-school of his native place, 

 the young Thunberg entered the University of Upsala in 1761. This 

 seat of learning was beginning to acquire renown by reason of the 

 botanical teaching of the illustrious Linnteus, who, through evil report 

 and good report, was rapidly bringing into general use his celebrated 

 sexual system of classification, and reforming the cumbrous descriptive 

 botanical nomenclature of the day. AVhen a new doctrine is vehe- 

 mently opposed it is certain to find equally vehement partisans. 

 LinnLX3US soon gathered roundhimself a band of zealous pupils, glorying 

 in the renown of their master, and eager to bring to his feet the spoils 

 of countries yet unexplored. He himself urged them to foreign travel. 

 Forskal went to Syria and Arabia, Hasselquist to Egypt, Osbeck to 

 China, Pontin to Malabar, not to mention many others who explored 

 the less visited parts of Europe. Thunberg, having gained a 

 small University scholarship, was advised by Linntcus to go and stud}^ 

 among the rich collections in Holland. In 1770 he left Upsala for 



(") Sco Harvey .and Sondor, Flora Capensis, vol. i. p. 75'). To avoid luiseouroption, 

 it is as well to say that tlioiigli the order in which this plant is placed was elaborated 

 by Sender, yet the remarks under the orders and genera where the quoted words occur, 

 were written by Dr. Harvey. 



(") " Cumque a longo abliinc tempore novir rarrrque in ipsi? Promontorii locis 

 collectie plantie bcnejieio GiibertiatorKm tarn per ramulos quani per semina et bulbos 

 aiTerantur." — N. L. Burmann, Flora Indica. 



