CAPE OP GOOD HOPE. 463 



originally poor, but it has been much enriched by manure. The 

 collection of plants, both native and exotic, is good; but the season of 

 flowers was over. The native bulbs, which form the great beauty of 

 the collections here, had passed, and but a few Amaryllidse, and some 

 varieties of the Oxalis, remained in bloom. Many curious specimens 

 of African plants were noticed, particularly some Zamias, Strelitzias, 

 Aloes, and Testudinarias. Of the former we brought home a fine 

 specimen, whose fruit, which resembles in shape a large pine-apple, 

 is eaten by the Bushmen, and is said to be palatable when properly 

 prepared. The collection of East Indian plants was in fine order, 

 and numerous specimens of the Cacti attracted our notice. 



The portion of ground allotted as a flower-garden contains a fine 

 collection of roses and dahlias, of ornamental shrubs and annuals. 

 There is also a vegetable-garden, while fruit trees are interspersed 

 here and there throughout the whole. The proprietor furnishes 

 tickets of admission to all who desire them ; but his rules and regula- 

 tions as to the hour of entrance, and respecting the police of the 

 garden, must be strictly observed. 



The plants furnished us by the Baron have flourished admirably 

 since our return. 



Tanks of some extent have been erected by the government, to 

 preserve water for the use of the town and shipping. I was not 

 aware at first that any necessity for them existed, but was afterwards 

 informed that the town has, at times, suffered severely from drought. 



The climate of the Cape is usually considered salubrious, and par- 

 ticularly renovating to constitutions enfeebled by a long residence in 

 India. 



If one were to place full reliance on the assertions of its inhabitants, 

 Cape Town and the surrounding country possess a perfection of 

 climate to be met with in no other part of the world ; but this, it is to 

 be regretted, is not fully corroborated by the testimony of the meteoro- 

 logical registers that have been kept, as well as the experience of those 

 who have written upon the subject. It has many peculiarities, and 

 may be termed rather a cold climate for its latitude. The mean tem- 

 perature throughout the year is 67|°. The extremes vary ten degrees 

 above and as much below the mean. It is classed by its inhabitants 

 under the warm and equable climates ; yet, notwithstanding, in many 

 situations, it is extremely variable : the thermometer will fluctuate ten 

 degrees in as many minutes, producing an unpleasant sensation of 

 cold ; this is owing to the chilly winds that sweep down from the 

 Table Mountain in blasts, to equalize the density of the atmosphere, 



