126 
RIVERS OF THE COLONY. — COLOQUINTID A. 15, 16 April, 
for this colony, it may be considered a populous tract. Nothing can 
be more grand than the lofty mountains by which it is enclosed on 
either side ; especially those of Mosterfs Hoek (Mostert's Corner). 
We forded the Breede (or Broad) river, which, at this season, is 
generally shallow, and divided into many little parallel rivulets ; but 
after the rains have fallen, it swells into a broad and impassable 
stream. It disembogues itself on the southern shore, into St. Se- 
bastian's Bay ; and is one of the seven principal rivers of the colony. 
These are, the Berg (Mountain), and the Oliphants (Elephants), on 
the western coast ; and along the southern, the Breede, the Gaurits, 
the Camtoos, the Zondag (Sunday), and the Groote Visch (Great 
Fish) rivers. 
In several places I remarked a great number of Coloquintida 
melons [Cucumis colocynthis) lying scattered on the ground, but 
connected together by the dry halm, as by a cord, all the leaves 
being decayed and entirely withered away. They resembled, in 
some degree, a common garden-melon ; but were perfectly glo- 
bular and smooth. Should this drug be introduced more gene- 
rally into medical practice in Europe, it may, perhaps, prove a 
source of profit not unworthy of notice, especially as the ope- 
ration of preparing them for exportation is attended with very little 
trouble or expense. They are to be found in great abundance in 
many places, growing in the plains ; the plant being widely dis- 
seminated over the whole of the extratropical part of Southern 
Africa. Every article of export from this colony, however small 
at first its amount may be, should be carefully encouraged, and 
the trade promoted ; because it cannot reasonably be expected, that 
a settlement which should be unable to export a produce of its own, 
sufficient as a return for the imported articles it consumes, can 
become rich and prosperous. 
At Dantje Hugo's, where we halted to take some refreshment, 
we met with an Irishman, who had been residing with this boor 
several months, and who seemed pleased at having an opportunity of 
entertaining his countryman, and of speaking English. Both here, 
