ISLAND GARDEN. 333 



the island were the largest, and the streams which formed 

 them seemed each to exceed in size the falls of the Clyde 

 at Stonebyres when that river is in flood. This was the 

 period of low-water in the Leeambye; but, as far as I 

 could guess, there was a flow of five or six hundred yards 

 of water, which, at the edge of the fall, seemed at least 

 three feet deep. 



Having feasted my eyes long on the beautiful sight, I 

 returned to my friends at Kalai, and, sajnng to Sekeletu 

 that he had nothing else worth showing in his country, his 

 curiosity was excited to visit it the next day. I returned 

 with the intention of taking a lunar observation from the 

 island itself; but the clouds were unfavorable, consequently 

 all my determinations of position refer to Kalai. (Lat. 17° 

 51' 54" S., long. 25° 41' E.) Sekeletu acknowledged to feel- 

 ing a little nervous at the probability of being sucked into 

 the gulf before reaching the island. His companions 

 amused themselves by throwing stones down, and won- 

 dered to see them diminishing in size, and even disappear- 

 ing, before they reached the water at the bottom. 



I had another object in view in my return to the island. 

 I observed that it was covered with trees, the seeds of 

 which had probably come down with the stream from the 

 distant north, and several of which I had seen nowhere 

 else, and every now and then the wind wafted a little of 

 the condensed vapor over it, and kept the soil in a state of 

 moisture, which caused a sward of grass, growing as green 

 as on an English lawn. I selected a spot — not too near 

 the chasm, for there the constant deposition of the moisture 

 nourished numbers, of polypi of a mushroom shape and 

 fleshy consistence, but somewhat back — and made a little 

 garden. I there planted about a hundred peach and apricot 

 stones, and a quantity of coffee-seeds. I had attempted 

 fruit-trees before, but, when left in charge of my Makololo 

 friends, they were always allowed to wither, after having 

 vegetated, by being forgotten. I bargained for a hedge 

 with one of the Makololo, and, if he is faithful, I have great 



