42 
A VOYAGE TO 
1776. take a view of the neighbouring country. Mr. Anderfon, 
November. m y Surgeon, who was one of the party, gave me the fol¬ 
lowing relation of their proceedings * : 
Saturday 16. 66 On the 16th, in the forenoon, I fet out in a waggon, 
with five more, to take a view of fome part of the country. 
We crofted the large plain that lies to the Eaftward of the 
town, which is entirely a white fand, like that commonly 
found on beaches, and produces only heath, and other fmall 
plants of various forts. At five in the afternoon we paffed 
a large farm-houfe, with fome corn-fields, and pretty con- 
fiderable vineyards, fituated beyond the plain, near the foot 
of fome low hills, where the foil becomes worth cultivating. 
Between fix and feven we arrived at Stellenbofh, the colony 
next to that of the Cape for its importance. 
The village does not conftft of more than thirty houfes, 
and hands at the foot of the range of lofty mountains,, 
above twenty miles to the Eaftward of the Cape Town. 
The houfes are neat; and, with the advantage of a rivulet 
which runs near, and the fhelter of fome large oaks, planted 
at its firft fettling, forms what may be called a rural pro- 
fpedi in this defert* country. There are fome vineyards and 
orchards about the place, which, from their thriving ap¬ 
pearance, feem to indicate an excellent foil; though, per¬ 
haps, they owe much to climate, as the air here has an un¬ 
common ferenity. 
* In the Philofophical Tranfaclions, Vol. lxvi. p. 268 to 319, Is an Account of Three 
Jour nies from the Cape Town into the Southern Parts of Africa , in 1772, 1773, and 1774; 
by Mr. Francis Maffon, who had been fent from England for the difcovery of new plants, 
towards the improvement of the Royal Botanical Garden at Kew. Much curious 
information is contained in Mr. Maflon’s account of thefe journies. M. de Pages, who 
was at the Cape in 1773, gives fome remarks on the ftate of that fettlement, and alfo the 
particulars of his journey from Falfe Bay to the Cape Town. Voyage vers le Pole 
du Sud) p. 17 to 32. 
I employed 
