128 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



CHAPTER VI. 



THIRD RESIDENCE AT CAPE TOWN. 



Cape Town, October 12, 1840. 

 I arrived here on the 5th inst., after a passage of seventy 

 days — a week of which we were detained in the Channel. I was 

 not altogether idle during the voyage, and so not given up to 

 unhappiness, and I am now settling down in good health and 

 spirits at the scene of my labours for some five years to come, 

 keeping a steady eye to my good resolutions. 



I found my house in good order, and my green-house ready 

 to receive plants ; but I foresee that I shall have to get a man 

 to bring water — lour buckets a day — if I grow Orchidem or ferns. 

 This is a sad thirsty climate, and it is most difficult to keep the 

 atmosphere humid. Most of the plants I brought out with me 

 are alive. Amongst those I mourn for are the fuchsias, both of 

 which suffered from being put in too moist a case. Salvia 

 patens lias had a hard struggle, but a hopeful shoot is springing 

 up. Nepenthes distillaloria is in perfect health. One of the 

 Epidendra blossomed on board ; and a fine Cypripedium is just 

 now pinking the tips of its bud. The garden out-of-doors looks 

 fresh and green, but is just now covered with a luxuriant crop 

 of nettles and Polygonum aviculare, but will soon put on a new 

 face, as we work vigorously at it in the cool of the morning. 



M and E have been great vegetable growers this year. 



They have been eating their own potatoes for three months, and 



have three months' more supply. M digs the potatoes every 



morning, and it would amuse you to see how carefully we pick 

 up the little ones, down to marble size, for when carefully 

 scraped they do for putting in the soup ! we cannot afford to 

 lose any. 



J. Backhouse is still here, and has just come in with some 



