AFRICA. 59 
ternal part completely decays in time, while 
the bark remains unaSeded. In this ftate its 
trunk and branches are perfedly hollow : the 
bark aflumes a certain degree of tranfparency, 
and the colour of fine Flanders glue ; ^nd, if 
thrown upon the fire, it does not burn like 
wood, but flirivels up and twifts like a piece 
of catgut. 
Some of thefe geraniums bear white flowers^ 
others yellow : but they are only varieties of 
the -fame fpecies ; for I have found 'flowers of 
both colours on the fame ftock. 
Among thofe with which I was furrounded 
I found a very beautiful one, of which I made 
a drawing ; and when I had finifhed it, I im- 
prudently threw the original out of my tent, 
near my waggon. At night, called up by 
a natural neceffity, I alighted from my wag-* 
gon, and, not thinking of the geranium, leaped 
barefoot upon it, fo that one of my feet was 
plunged in its thorns up to the ankle. The 
pain I felt was fo great, that I gave a loud 
fcream, which brought all my people about 
me. They found me fupporting myfelf on 
one leg, while the other was nailed to the 
thorny trunk, without my daring to make the 
leaft 
