\ 
his Journey into Africa. 39 
The firft misfortune I met with was the lofs of the 
thermometer which you had left me, and which broke 
before I had reached the hot-baths. This was only a 
prelude to greater diftrefles. The drought was fo violent 
this year, that the like had not been experienced in the 
colony within the memory of man, and it obliged the 
inhabitants to leave their country-feats. *A great part of 
their cattle perifhed for want of grafs and water, and I 
have frequently buffered the moft raging third; in the 
hot defarts which I traverfed; but I was too well feafoned 
during the voyage to dread the hardfhips of a fcanty 
fubfiftence, the fatigues of travelling, or the power of 
the climate. The moft fenfible misfortune which the- 
dry feafon brought along with it, was the defolation of 
the vegetable kingdom. Far from being fo fortunate as 
Dr. thunberg, who has added above athoufand fpecies 
to the Flora Capenfis , I found every thing burnt up, and 
only in the thickeft forefts met with fome perennial 
plants which were new to me, and which, upon a revifal 
of that gentleman’s herbal, I believe are likewife un- 
known to him. Of thefe I propofe to fend you fpeci- 
mens as foon as I can find time to bring my collecftion 
into fome kind of order. On the other hand, I have 
been fortunate with animals, and efpecially in the clafs 
of quadrupeds. I fhall not fpeak of lions and other beafts 
of 
