SIX MONTHS AT CAPE 2 OWN. 65 



Negro, Bushman, Hottentot, and Malay, with innumerable inter- 

 mediate varieties. No sooner had we approached within leaping 

 distance, than the host of oddities, griiming like baboons and 

 jabbering like monkeys, jumped down upon us, and voraciously 

 grabbed our luggage. In an instant all our trunks and 

 packages were at their mercy. The ladies looked affrighted ; 

 I was measurelessly amused; and but for the colour, I could 

 have fancied myself again among the wild Irish. We lost 

 nothing, however. 



The routine of my days is as follows, and will probably con- 

 tinue so for some time to come. I rise between four and five, 

 and set out for the mountain or the shore, to botanize ; return 

 to breakfast about nine. Till twelve or one I am occupied in 

 placing my treasures on drying papers, and the rest of the day 

 I spend variously. We dine at six, and I then write letters, 

 and am ready for bed at ten ; and now, at half-past nine, find 

 sleep drawing her curtains over both mind and body. 



The boys are well. Tell O'Neill that I have consented to 

 act as tutor till they find a better. Well, truly, we know not 

 to what we may turn a hand. I never expected to be a tutor, 

 and certainly never desired it. 



The church here is new and handsome, and the colonial 

 chaplain who officiates gave us on Sunday a good and useful 

 sermon. The building cost 18,000/., 13,000?. of which was sub- 

 scribed in Cape Town. Call you that nothing? Building is 

 enormously dear. A similar building would not cost above 

 6000?. in England. The Caffre war continues. Government 

 still there. I have not heard the latest news. Farewell. 



To a Cousin. 



Sept. 18, 1835. 



I am fairly wild with delight at everything botanical since 

 I came on shore. I often thought af you this morning on the 

 Devil's Mountain (absurd name for an Elysium of flowers), whilst 

 picking up at every step some new or exquisite plant ; nor did 

 I among the glorious strangers despise the mosses, and on this 

 first excursion had the happiness to add one new species to the 

 Flora, albeit only a little Phascum, tenth of an inch in height. 

 I rose this morning at six, being too excited to sleep, and set 



F 



