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we felt it was a mercy we didn't capsize before reaching 
Durban, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The driver, too, 
had never been with the mnles before, but he was a good 
whip, and I think kept the 'bus on its legs by the pace he 
drove. Put up at the ^'Eoyal" as before: a new proprietor 
had taken it since we were last there, and things were a 
little more comfortable. On enquiry, we found to our 
disgust, there was no steamer to catch the mail on 
November 5th from Capetown, which we had hoped to get 
away by. It was most annoying, as the coasters had been 
running regularly according to their advertisements until 
this date. So here we are, tied by the leg, and must just 
have patience till some steamer comes to release us; and 
as no one appears to know, not even the company's agents, 
when such an event will happen, we are in a happy state 
of uncertainty. Next day was wet, and we found the 
tiny room that we had been put into so uncomfortable, 
that we were glad to move over to a detached building, 
where we had more space and a sitting room. A parcel 
followed us from Bishopstowe, containing some cases of 
Natal beetles and insects, collected and beautifully 
arranged by one of the Miss Colenso's, who had kindly 
sent them to E. Went to the Botanical Gardens, about 
a mile from the town, to see the different specimens of 
pines and other trees, which were said to be very good, 
but I was much disappointed, the place being badly kept; 
and what few good trees and shrubs we saw there, were 
smothering one another. Twenty years ago, elephants 
abounded in the hills and bush about these gardens, and 
now where are they? The weather is very hot, and 
mosquitoes most troublesome; the air after Pieter- 
Maritzburg is most oppresive. On the Monday we 
explored the Bluff," the hill that shuts in the Bay of 
Durban from the sea; and by going to the top of the 
lighthouse on the point, we had a good view of the bay 
