SbUTHERN AFRICA. 83 
The Proiea Grandiflora^ on the fummit of the mountains, re- 
fembled, in their fize and appearance, old flunted oaks. Heaths 
^Ifo were very large, and bulbous rooted plants in great abund- 
ance. We found, likewife, growing among the rocks, numbers 
of that fmgular plant the 'Tamiis Ekphant'ipes^ fo called from 
the refemblance of its large tuberous root, rifmg above the fur- 
face of the ground, to the foot of the elephant : — but I am de- 
viating too far from the title I have prefixed to this Chapter, 
in making obfervations on natural hiftory, which, indeed, the 
nature of the expedition was not well calculated to promote. \ 
might, however, with more propriety, perhaps, have called it a 
Mifcellaneous Chapter, as it is not meant to be confined to one 
objedl. 
. The diftrifl of Plettenberg's Bay is in fa£t a rich field for the 
naturalift. Let his favourite purfuit be what it may, botany, 
ornithology, or zoology, he may here indulge his inclination. 
The greateft part of the forefl: trees ftill remain unexamined. 
The birds are numerous, and have ferioujly been attacked by no 
other collector than Mr. Le Vaillant, of whom Mr. Meeding, 
for many years the poftholder at the bay, fpeaks as being an 
excellent fhot at fmall birds, and a moft indefatigable purfuer of 
them. Of animals, from the little taillefs das or Cavy, and the 
pigmy Antelope, to the huge Elephant, the woods of Sitfikamma 
furnifii great variety. The Plahi of Harteheejls abounds with 
that noble fpecies of the antelope tribe from which it takes its 
name ; and every thicket is filled with the beautiful Bq/bok^ or 
BuGi deer, remarkable for its fpotted haunches, and ftill more 
M 2 fo 
