thunberg’s account oe the cape of good hope.

11

minifter is gone on a journey, fick, or otherwife hindered, the clerk reads to the con-gregation fome portion of the Bible .

The farmers, or colonifts, all through the country are, as well as the inhabitants ofthe city, all burghers, and are confequently obliged to be always in readinefs, in cafeof a war, to defend their country. For this purpofe they are divided into companies,and certain perfons among them appointed their officers.

On the fudden approach of danger from any enemy, the whole body of the inha-bitants may be fummoned by the firing of guns and hoilting of flags. For this pur-pofe cannons are planted at proper intervals, and at the fide of each hands a flag-haff,to give hgnals in cafe of the approach of an enemy, or of any great fleet belongingto a foreign power. In fuch cafe, feven guns are fired from the Lion’s Head. Thecannon on the banks of Zour Rivier is next difcharged, which is repeated by anotherplaced at a greater diflance, then by a third, and fo on; the flag being always hoihedbefore the firing of the gun, by which means the alarm is foon given throughout thewhole country.

As an antidote againh the bite of ferpents, the blood of the turtle was much criedup, which, on account of this extraordinary virtue, tire inhabitants dry in the form offmall fcales or membranes, and carry about them when they travel in this country,which fwarms with this moft noxious vermin. Whenever any one is wounded by aferpent, he takes a couple of pinches of the dried blood internally and applies a littleof it to the wound.

Surgeons, apothecaries, and others, when they cannot find in this country the ufualand genuine medicinal plants, look for others that fomewhat refemble them, either intheir flowers, leaves, fmell, or general habit, and then give them the fame names.The phyfician, who hears this quid, pro quo mentioned, mult not let it puzzle or mif-lead him.

The leaves of the calla JEthiopica, a plant which grew even in the ditches about thegardens near the Cape, were laid to ferve for food for the (Yzer-varken or) por-cupines.

The root of the arclopus echinaius, which grew both near the Cape and in otherplaces, was of a foft texture, and contained a very white and pure gum, which wasufed in the form of a deco&ion, as an excellent purifier of the blood, and likewife asa remedy in the gonorrhoea.

The root of the byronia Africana ferved the country-people for an emetic; infufedin wine or brandy it proves an excellent purge, efpecially if a piece of bread be eatenafter it.

The geranium cucullatum , a fragrant plant, was ufed as an emollient, inclofed infmall bags.

Of the leaves of the barbonia cordata the country-people made tea.

The montinia acris, though it is of a very acrid nature, was faid to be eaten by thefheep.

The Hottentots eat the fruit of the brabeium ftellatum, a large fhrub that grows nearbrooks and rivulets, called Wilde Caftanien (wild chefnuts), and fometimes ufed by thecountry-people inflead of coffee: the outfide rind being taken off, the fruit is fteepedin water to deprive it of its bitternefs; it is then boiled, roafted, and ground likecoffee.

The gout and dropfy were common difeafes in this country, proceeding from thegreat quantities of wine that was drank, and the very varying and cold winds,

c 2 v The