40 
GAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
the scene is on too large a scale to be introduced in one picture. I 
understand that we saw the fall to great advantage, as usually at this 
season of the year it is nearly dry. Most assuredly there is no spot 
I have seen during our whole journey that I should so much rejoice 
to revisit as French Hoek, not only on account of the cascade, but of 
the beauty of the whole surrounding country. Wet and weary we 
returned to De Villiers, where we parted with our host, and set off 
instantly on our return to Stellenbosch. In defiance of the rain, I 
had collected at French Hoek some seed of Protea grandiflora, and 
a considerable quantity of bulbs, chiefly Haemanthus, which serve 
as food to the baboons, that abound among the rocky declivities 
of the mountains. It is the richest field for botany that I have met 
with. 
October 30.— We departed at ten this morning, satisfied with our 
residence at Wolfferum's house, and pleased with the partiality he 
expressed for the English, which I believe was not feigned. We 
dined, as usual, by a rivulet, on cold meat, finished the last bottle 
of our wine, killed the first covracapelle we had seen, and also a 
beautifiil snake, called the ribbon snake ; and without having met 
with the least accident, finished a tour of 300 miles, arriving safe at 
Cape Town about seven o'clock in the evening. 
October 31. — I find that, on examination, General Dundas and 
Sir Roger Curtis have determined that the Minerva is capable of 
holding 300 men, and that General Vandeleure has chosen to go in 
her himself; consequently a division of his regiment, the 8th Light 
Dragoons, accompanies him. The ship is not yet ready, from the 
necessity of providing water and provisions for so much larger a 
number than was expected. 
November 3. — On paying a visit this morning to Sir Roger Curtis, 
