340 
FASTING. — NATURALIZED PLANTS. 
27, 29 Sept. 
On such fast days^ the inhabitants of the Kraal were careful not to 
interrupt us ; at the same time, perhaps, fearing to give my men 
an opportunity of inviting themselves to dine at their huts in return 
lor the feastings they had enjoyed at our fire. 
In my walk to day I observed, with surprise, how rapidly small 
annual flowers spring up after the rains. In the cornfield, several 
European plants seemed quite at home * ; but their presence, at this 
distance from their own country, is easily accounted for ; the seeds 
having been introduced along with the corn. In this manner many 
weeds are transported all over the world, and become so completely 
naturalized in a foreign climate, that, to prevent being misled in 
supposing them aboriginals, it is necessary first to examine into 
the possibility of such an emigration having taken place. 
The Kloof and its mountains, notwithstanding their apparent 
sterility, afforded, even at this unfavorable season, many new and 
remarkable plants, f 
Polygonum aviculare 
Veronica Anagallis 
Urtica urens 
Lolium temulentum 
Hordeum murinum ; and 
Phalaris Canariensis. 
f Cleome juncea. Linn. 
Echites succulent a. Thunb. 
Cynoglossiim echinatum. Th. 
Lithospermum papillosum. Th. 
Centopodiim B. Catal. Geogr. 1687. 
[Rumex spinosus. Th.) Nomen com- 
positum, a xsvts'c/j pungo et ttouj, ttoSo^ 
pes ; quia fructus tribuliformes 
obambulantium pedes pungiint. 
Genus est monoicum, ex ordine 
Polygonearum. 
Pteris calomelanos. Willd. Sp. PL 
Aitonia Capensis 
Celastrus ilicinus. Catal. Geog. 1663. 
Frutex pulcher sub-6-pedalis, in- 
ermis. Folia subtus glauca, acute 
ovata, serraturis pungentibus. Flo- 
res solitarii axillares. Pedunculi 
foliis breviores, infra medium arti- 
culati. Capsulae flavae. 
Phlomis micrantha. Cat. Geog. 1672. 
Frutex 4-pedalis totus tomentosus. 
Ramuli tomento albo brevissimo 
denso vestiti. Folia anguste lance- 
olata, serrulata, subtus venis reti- 
culatis. Flores folio duplo bi'eviores. 
Verticilli 6— 12-flori. Corolla sul- 
phurea calyce vix longior. 
Rhus pyroides. Cat. Geog. 1 796. Fru- 
tex 6 — 10-pedalis. Ramuli saspe 
spinescentes. Foliola ovata-lance- 
olata integerrima glabra. Racemi 
axillares folio breviores; terminales 
longiores. 
llhus tridactyle. Catal. Geog. 1667. 
Frutex 4 — 5-pedalis. Ramuli ri- 
