1811. 
COMMENCEMENT OF WINTER. — GREEN-POINT. 
153 
from a want of harmony between the members of such an expedition, 
too much to suffer myself to listen to my natural wish for a com- 
panion. Yet I must confess that there were often moments during 
my subsequent travels in which I severely felt the want of some 
companion, whose assistance and advice might have relieved my 
daily fatigues, and the anxieties of my mind. 
22nd. At this season the weather is generally rainy at the 
Cape, although in the present year they set in earlier than usual, 
having fallen very abundantly in the months of April and May. 
The thermometer in Cape Town during this time, stood ordinarily 
about 55° Fahr. (10°2Reaum; 12°7 Centig.) in the morning, and 
64° (14°2 R. ; 17°7 C.) in the middle of the day. The winter might 
be considered as having already commenced ; yet, excepting 
these rainy days, it was the most agreeable time of the year ; 
although, by persons habituated to a warm climate, it might be 
accounted rather chilly. 
The day being sunny and pleasant, tempted me to take a stroll 
on Green-Point. The effect of the late rains was surprising : not 
six weeks before, the herbage seemed entirely parched up ; vege- 
tation had disappeared, and the plain looked like a barren waste ; 
but the sterile plain was now changed to a verdant field, and myriads 
of gay flowers had started up out of the earth. Those who have 
seen this spot only in the summer, would never suppose that a soil 
so arid and bare, contained such an astonishing quantity, and such 
a great variety of bulbous roots. Blossoms of every color and every 
hue were at this time expanded to the genial warmth of the sun, 
and in such profusion that, from a little distance, some particular 
parts of the plain appeared as if painted red, others white, and others 
yellow. It is chiefly to the beautiful tribe of Oxalis that these en- 
livening effects are at this season attributable ; but not less so to two 
other extremely small and delicate plants,* which, in countless 
* Ixia minuta and Strumaria spiralis. Of the uncertain flowering of many of the 
bulbous plants of this colony, the former, among a great many others, may be adduced 
as an example ; since, by Thunberg, who for three years vvas indefatigable in collecting 
every where near Cape Town, it was considered as a rare ))lant. 
