176 
GREEN FIREWOOD. 
22, 23 June. 
perfection to which any particular use of the mind may be brought 
by constant exercise ; for, with these people, tending and managing 
their cattle is the grand employment of life. For myself, it was 
a long time before I was able to distinguish my own team, even 
from those belonging to the other waggons. 
The weather prevented our setting out until a late hour, and it 
became dark before we had advanced more than seven miles and a 
half ; when we unyoked at an outspan-place, in the midst of 
rhinoceros-bushes, which abound in this part of the country. 
29ind. This day proved very fine ; and so early as eight o'clock 
in the morning, the thermometer was not lower than 57 ' (11*1 R. ; 
13*8 C.) although it was now the depth of winter ; a circumstance 
from which some estimate may be formed of the general mildness of 
the winters at the Cape. 
Soon after we left this place. Table Mountain was seen very 
distinctly : its form is too remarkable, in this part of the colony, 
to be mistaken for any other. During the whole of this day's 
journey, which was twenty miles, the road was exceedingly even, 
being over an open, and, in most parts, a rhinoceros-bush country. * 
After advancing a couple of hours, we halted to take dinner; 
while the oxen were left standing in the yoke. I could not but admire 
the expedition with which the Hottentots made a fire and broiled their 
meat. The rhinoceros-bush is well known for its valuable property of 
burning while green, as freely as the driest fuel ; and whole plants 
which we threw on the fire, blazed up in an instant, the larger stems 
giving a very strong heat and flame. Although one may venture to 
assert that the whole plant contains a considerable quantity of either 
inflammable oil, or resinous gum, these are not discoverable by 
the eye. 
We continued travelling by moonlight, till a little before nine 
* A variety of proteaceous plants, decorate the sides of the road : among them were 
Protea scolymus three feet high, and Mimetes purpurea. A very pretty Blairia, forming 
a little shrub a foot and a half high, was now covered with blossom. 
