vi PREFACE. 
parts of Africa ; the variety of climates and local situations 
afforded by the nature of the country, produce such a diver- 
sity of species, that the age of man would scarce be sufficient 
to complete a Flora of it, accompanied with exact figures and 
scientific descriptions. 
The Dutch, although celebrated as lovers of Natural History 
and Botany, had possessed the Cape near 130 years before any 
considerable number of plants from thence were introduced 
into their European gardens, a few geraniums and succulent 
plants excepted. Even the zoology of this interesting spot 
seems to have been very little studied by them. 
The curious productions of the Cape had been too much neg- 
lected until the year 177 1, when Captain Cook returned from 
his first voyage round the globe, and landed the Naturalists who 
accompanied him at the Cape Town ; they were much gratified 
by the treasures they met with, and in consequence of the 
observations they then made, Sir Joseph Banks, on his return 
to England, suggested to his Majesty the idea of sending a 
person, professionally a gardener, to the Cape, to collect seeds^ 
and plants for the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew: his Majesty 
was graciously pleased to adopt the plan, though at that time 
so little approved by the public, that no one but myself chose 
to undertake the execution of it. I sailed for the Cape in the 
beginning of 1 7 72, and remained there two years and a half ; 
during which time I succeeded so well, that my mission has 
been the cause of several other botanical expeditions of the 
same kind being undertaken, by order of the Emperor, of the 
late King of France, and of the King of Spain. 
In the year 17 86 I was sent out a second time to the Cape, 
and remained there near ten years, in which time I had opporr 
tunities more minutely to search that great tract of country ; the 
various collections I have sent from thence to Kew Gardens 
