142 
RED, AND WHITE ALDERS. 
20 April, 
houses, they feel no hesitation either in asking such favors, or in 
granting them. Thus a boor is never at a loss for a meal on the 
road ; and as the customary time of dinner is about noon, he, without 
much ceremony, unsaddles his horse at any door where he may happen 
to come at that hour. If he arrive later, he is supposed to have 
dined at some other place on the road, and the question whether he 
may be in want of refreshment, is considered superfluous : but in 
most parts of the country, a cup of tea is generally presented to him, 
without any regard to the time of day. It is therefore a boor's own 
fault if he lose his dinner. Those who travel in waggons, and who 
most frequently carry theii provisions and cooking utensils with 
them, are looked upon as not standing in need of assistance, though 
such persons freely make use of those houses where they have any 
acquaintance with the family. 
20th. The weather this day was more favourable ; and not- 
withstanding the ground was still wet from the rain of yesterday, the 
sunshine tempted us to go out of doors. We were conducted to see 
the kitchen garden ; and in the wine cellar, two casks were pointed 
out as being reputed the largest in the colony. We were also shown 
a corn-mill, of very good though simple mechanism, worked by an 
overshot wheel. 
In almost every farmer's garden, a clump of Bamboo-cane may 
be seen growing ; which, though an elegant and ornamental plant, is 
no where cultivated on that account, but merely for the uses to which 
its cane is applicable ; and principally for whip-stocks, as possessing 
the desirable qualities of strength and lightness. Of these I now pur- 
chased a number for the use of my journey. 
In a walk to the foot of the mountains behind the house, I first 
met with Cunonia Capensis, growing wild in the damp rocky places 
along the banks of a rivulet. This is a handsome tree, with Jfine 
shining green foliage, contrasted by numerous dense, elongated 
bunches of small milk-white flowers, and twigs of a red color ; having 
the habit rather of a tropical, than of a Cape, plant. Its colonial 
name is Rood Elze (Red Alder), although the tree has not, in any 
point of view, the least resemblance to the Alder of Europe ; but 
