SECOND RESIDENCE AT CAPE TOWN. 101 



December 5th. No Table Mountain for this week ; even my 

 energy cannot think of a walk of twenty miles, with the thermo- 

 meter 130°, and a roasting sun above my head. There are many 

 plants there now that I especially want to gather; but these things 

 cannot be helped, better lose them than run the chance of a 

 sunstroke, or brain fever ; so I shall stay at home and suck 

 oranges. 



To N. B. Ward, Esq. 



Cape Town, December 11th, 1837. 

 I have now to thank you for a letter I have just received 

 from Griffith, who seems to be fast amassing an enormous collec- 

 tion, and who offers most liberally to forward my views to the 

 extent of his power, in Indian botany. Such a correspondent I 

 specially wanted, one who could give me Indian plants, and who 

 cared to take in return those of the Cape. Where there is a mutual 

 interchange of desirables we shall probably get on pleasantly, and 

 both our herbariums be benefited. I have just written to him : 

 his letter is dated " Eiver Hooghly," and he was then on his way 

 to Assam, via the Khasia hills. From Assam he was to go to 

 Bootan, in the Himalaya country, and thence to Thibet. A glori- 

 ous field of observation to a person animated by his spirit, and 

 with so accurate an eye as his has proved to be. He promises 

 to send me his first parcel on his return, which I suppose cannot 

 be till far on in the next year, but he gives me no clue as to 

 when his journey would terminate. 



December 14:th. I was up Table Mountain yesterday, and got 

 many interesting things, as usual. If I had time I should like to 

 visit it once a week, from August to April, and once a fortnight 

 the rest of the year, and I doubt not I should find enough to 

 interest me ; as yet I have only seen the summit three times 

 in twelve months. What an idler ! 



To the Same. 



Cape Town, February 8th, 1838. 

 As I am sending a packet, I may just as well ask you how 

 you do, and what you are doing; what besides the routine 

 business of asking old ladies after their colds and rheums, 

 and so forth, wherewith I suppose this February "fill the 

 dykes " has well supplied you. You may wish to know what I 



