F O U R T H J 0 U R N E Y. j 3j 
and fruitful countr^r which extends to the fouthward, and ^^^779- 
J ' _ JJecember, 
joins Stillen Bofch. The only produce of this country is Wine. * — 
In the courfe of this journev I have had frequent occafion to 
mention the Mimofas, which abound particularly in the Great 
Nimiqua Land ; and I cannot clofe my Journal, without once 
more calHng the reader's attention to a vegetable production, 
which muft ftrike every traveller witli adonifliment ; not only 
from its uncommon fize, but from the different ufes for which 
Nature feems to have intended it.* It produces quantities of 
Gum, which is confidered by the natives as a peculiarly deli- 
cate fpecies of food ; the leaves and lower points of the branches 
feem to conftitute the principal aliment of the CamelopardaHs ; 
and, from the extent of its boughs, and fmoothnefs of the 
trunk, it affords a fufficient defence to a fpecies of gregarious 
bird+ againft the tribe of ferpents, and other reptiles, which 
would otherwife deffroy its eggs. 
The method in which thefe birds ufually fabricate their 
nefts is highly curious. In that of which I have given a re- 
prefentation in the annexed plate, there could be no lefs a 
number than from eight hundred to a thoufand reiiding under 
the fame roof. I call it a roof, becaufe it perfedly refembles 
that of a thatched houfe, and the ridge forms an angle fo acute 
and fo fmooth, projeding over the entrance of the neft below, 
that it is impoffible for any reptile to approach them. 
* See the plate. See the Loxia plate. 
