1812. 
NUAKKETSI BOTANY. — MATTIVPS INQUIRIES. 
475 
Cape Colony. Whether this be really so or not, it is doubtless a 
species of Protea, and proves the re-appearance of that tribe of plants, 
after an interval of above seven degrees of latitude from the last spot 
where I had seen any of the species. In the whole of that interval, 
this genus, and several others which characterize the botany of the 
Cape, are, as I have formerly remarked *, no where to be seen. At 
Klaarwater, a piece of the stem of a tree or shrub, was shown to me, 
which was said to have been cut in the country of the Nuakketsis, 
and which gave me the idea that the botany of that region, had a 
character different from that of the southern part of the Trans- 
gariepine. This piece of wood was about an inch and a half in 
diameter, and so deeply quadrisulcated, that a transverse section ap- 
peared like a cross. 
These Hottentots still persisted in repeating the old story of 
the dangers of venturing farther into the Interior. To this story, my 
ears had for many months been so much accustomed, that, like the 
palate habituated to stimulating food, they were no longer suscep- 
tible of any excitation from that which had, at first, produced con- 
siderable sensation : but an addition which was now made to it, 
possessed a stimulus sufficiently sharp to rouse my attention and create 
some degree of uneasiness. Mattivi had been in conversation with 
Berends relatively to the course which I might mean to take, after 
leaving Litakun ; and had questioned him respecting my intentions 
of proceeding farther northward. On this subject, he fortunately 
was not able to give any certain information ; although it was evident 
by the Chief's answer, that the latter had some suspicions. He told 
Berends that if the white-people at the Cape would bring a strong 
party of men to revenge the murder of the two Englishmen already 
mentioned, and of their companions, he would send a large body of 
Bachapins to accompany them to Melitta, where they would soon be 
convinced who had been the authors of it. Berends, who gave credit 
to this account, and who, as well as Hendrik and several others of their 
people, were ready and willing to engage in such an undertaking. 
* In the first volume, at page 208. 
3 p 2 
