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193 CHAP. VIII. COLONY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. Visit to the Missionary Settlements in the Cape Colony. — Journey to Paarl. — African Omnibuses. — Driving ten in Hand Intercourse with an aged Missionaiy. — Departure from Cape Town. — Accident on the Road. — Aspect of the Country. — Variety and Abundance of Flowers and Fruits Zurbraak. — An African Congregation. — The Montague Pass.— Ostriches. — Extent and Beauty of the Cango Caverns. — Hospitality of a Negro Woman. — Matzie’s Riviere. — Settlement of African Christians. — Spirited Conduct of the People of Oudshorn. — Journey across the Desert. — Graaf Reynet. — Fruits of Frugality and Industry. — Flight of Locusts. — Large Herds of Springboks. — Kindness of Mr. Gilfillan, Wonder Hill. — Encamp ment on the Banks of the Orange River Subsidence of the Waters. — Journey to Philipolis. — Sunday with the Griquas. — State and Prospects of the People. — Hospitality of the Boers. — Sheepshearing in South Africa. — Cradock. — Disease among the Cattle. — Orange Grove. — Venomous Rep tiles. — Anecdotes of Caffres. — Visit to Mr. Hart at Glen Avon. On proceeding to the residence of Mr. Thompson, the agent of the London Missionary Society in Cape Town, I found letters from England urgently requesting me to visit the several stations of the Society in the colony, and Mr. Thomp son having proposed to accompany me, we immediately com menced the necessary preparations for our journey. In the mean time I paid a visit to Paarl, a station about thirty-five miles from Cape Town, and lying rather out of the line of our route. I set out in an omnibus drawn the chief part of the way by ten horses, two abreast. The road lay across a wide sandy plain called the Cape Flats. I had long been familiar with Cape heaths and mesembryanthemums, but the vast numbers of the latter growing in the dry white sand in every direction, and the miles and miles of beautiful heaths, were to me a new and most pleasing spectacle. One species, o