1811. 
KARRO PLAINS. 
219 
naturally gave a name to a spot where nothing else presents itself, 
that could suggest an appellation. In these solitary wilds, no moving- 
being was to be seen, no sound to be heard. Inclining my view to 
the foot of the hill upon which I was standing, I contemplated our 
waggons with a species of satisfaction quite peculiar to our circum- 
stances. It was a busy scene ; a little society within itself, in every 
movement of which I was interested : every individual, and every 
animal composing it, seemed more warmly to participate in my 
good-will the farther we removed from the rest of the civilized 
world. 
For the purpose of recalling these impressions to mind, when 
the lapse of future years, and the presence of other scenes, should 
increase the pleasures of memory, I made a drawing of the view 
before me ; and, as a further memento, collected three new and 
curious plants * ; of which, one was never met with in any other part 
of the country. 
By the time these observations were finished, the waggons had 
ascended the hill. We soon descended on the other side, and pro- 
ceeded for a couple of miles over a Karro producing, at this season, 
not a single flower to enliven the arid soil. After this, nothing 
* Aptosimum indivisum, B. Catal. Geogr. 1217. Folia longissime petiolantia f pu- 
bescentia (ssepe nuda) ovata acuta mucronata, glomerata in caule brevissima vix divisa. 
Flores sessiles, corollis purpureis, fauce nigro-maculata. 
No men generis derivaturab aprivativum ef^lMo-ip-oi caducus, ob capsulas post seminum 
delapsionem diii persistentes. Genus liocce in systemate naturali Caprarice proxinium est. 
Cotyledon parvida, B. Catal. Geogr. 121 8. Planta 6 — 9 — poUicaris, erecta. Folia 
crassa ovalia compressiuscula. Panicula dichotome ramosa. Pedunculi erecti longissimi 
capillares. 
Euphorbia tenax, B. Catal. Geogr. 1219. SuflFruticosa, inermis, glabra, ramosa, 
aphylla, sub-bipedalis. Rami teretes, virides, vix lactescentes. Ramuli oppositi. In- 
florescentia paniculata. 
Euphorbia Mauritanica, also, was here a common plant, growing out of the dry rocky 
soil ; and was distinguishable, even at some distance, by its pleasing light-green color. 
•f- Folium petiolans, est cujus pagina sensim contrahitur in petiolum. Folium petiolatum dicitur, cum 
petiolus abrupte in basi transversa paginae inseritur. •— Sic, germen stylans et stylatum : flores peduncu/antes et 
pedunculati ; cum aliis hujusmodi verbis. 
F F 2 
