1812. 
FORCE OF CUSTOM. 
547 
of it on the spot. A species of Bryony *, remarkable for its neatly 
divided leaves, and beautiful scarlet berries, was growing abundantly 
in this district, and is not uncommon in the country adjoining the 
Gariep. 
We departed hence at ten in the forenoon, having the most 
beautiful weather imaginable, with the air fresh and reviving, though 
rather hot ; the sky remaining unclouded the whole day. Old 
Cobus soon afterwards parted company, and struck off to the left, 
across the country to Gert Kok's kraal, to ascertain if any one there 
were willing to go with us. He rejoined us on the road in the 
evening, but had met with no success in his enquiries. 
We travelled over wide plains of tall verdant grass, that might 
truly be called the finest hay-fields ; and where, with very little 
trouble or labor, the inhabitants might supply themselves with abun- 
dance of excellent hay for the support of all their cattle, during that 
season of the year when every blade of grass is withered up, and 
their half-starved herds are obliged to live by browsing on any plant 
which may fall in their way. But unfortunately, every nation, from 
the most savage to the most polished, is guided too blindly by 
custom and fashion : and the advantages of laying up a stock of fod- 
der for the dry season, is therefore not likely soon to become evident 
to the inhabitants of Southern Africa, although hundreds of their 
cattle die yearly from want of it. But the ease of an indolent life, 
with all its losses, is so much more agreeable to them than the labor 
of an industrious one with all its advantages, that the minds of such 
men must be entirely new-modelled before they can be capable of 
receiving the improvements of other countries. 
Not far out of our road, four gigantic ostriches, decorated with 
Filamenta 5 nectariis longiora, apice conniventia et germen orbiculatum depressura 
tegenlia. Antherae 5 ad basin filamentorum. Stylus et stigma inconspicua. 
Nomen a crurgscfico, contorqueo, ob apices laciniarum coroUae in funiculo contortos. 
Genus ex ordine Apocynearum. 
* Bryonia pinnatifida, B. Cat. Geog. 2098. Folia ternato-pedata, lobis pinnatifidis ; 
laciniis linearibus oblongisque obtusis aveniis 
4 A 2 
