THIRD RESIDENCE AT CAPE TOWN. 129 



seeds lie has collected in the interior. There is also a specimen 

 of a new genus of Zygoyliyllese, which I call Backhousia Australis. 

 It is a peculiarly appropriate plant to record J. B., if we look 

 for those pretty analogies, or rather allegories, that Linnaeus 

 was so fond of finding out, for the flower is plain enough for a 

 Quaker, and of small and modest dimensions, while the fruit 

 (by which a tree should be known) is the largest in the order, 

 and of a bright glossy red, so that a bush in berry must be a 

 very handsome object. The allegory, however, must not be 

 forced too far, for those berries that look so beautiful without 

 are empty within — of no more substance than the bladder cherry. 

 J. B. will probably be here for some time longer, and I look for 

 many pleasant rambles with him. He takes four hours' exercise 

 daily for health's sake, but is in the habit of walking in the 

 heat of the day, which I am not able for, so I shall confine 

 myself to his evening exercise. He has established a school 

 here for the children of the poorest classes — both coloured and 

 white. Those who can afford it pay, and those who cannot are 

 taken gratis. There are at present about fifty scholars, but 

 room for more, and when it has been at work a little longer it 

 will, I hope, go on well. J. B. takes no violent measures to 

 get scholars, or to overcome prejudice, but by little and little 

 gets along. He has been fortunate in securing an excellent 

 master and mistress. The man was a Quaker, and educated at 

 Ackworth, but I believe left the Society of Friends ; however, he 

 afterwards became serious, and had an idea that it would be 

 required of him to come here and engage in education ; but not 

 being sufficiently clear in the matter, he put it away and went to 

 other business. However, for some reason which I forget, he took 

 to sailoring, and his vessel was wrecked on our pleasant shores, 

 and so he stayed, offered himself to the Wesleyans, and for 

 some years conducted a school for them, till it was given up. 

 He married one of their body, also a teacher, and so went along, 

 still wishing to devote himself to the instruction of the poor.; 

 but the Wesleyans no longer having occasion for his services, 

 J. B. raised a subscription among his friends at home, purchased 

 the schoolhouse — a very neat building — and settled Jennings 

 in it. The rest of his acts are they not written in the " Book of 

 the Travels of J. B. and G. H. W ?" l 



1 "Narrative of a Voyage to South Africa and the Mauritius." By James 

 Backhouse. 



