vineyard loaded with grapes, and the African negroes employed therein.  Now we pass an avenue of English oaks; and this brings us to a fine large octagonal building in the Dutch style, which is the residence of the proprietor of Lower Constantia.’  Mr. Leigh next describes the interior of the wine vaults as ’a long building, 100 yards or more; on either side enormous butts, with polished oak ribs, kept in the cleanest style.’  As I cannot offer you a glass of wine from these celebrated butts, I will not detain the party any longer.”

[Footnote 19:  Mr. Leigh, surgeon of the Australian Company’s ship “South Australia.”]

CHARLES.  “The finest bay in the world falls to my share.  It is Saldana Bay, which is capable of containing at safe anchorage the whole British fleet, during all seasons of the year.”

MR. WILTON.  “But dame Nature, always capricious in her favors, has denied fertility to the adjacent soil; and the supply of water is limited, in consequence of which it is seldom resorted to, except by foreign whalers fishing on the coast.  Almost the same may be said of St. Helena Bay, and for the same reasons.  How many more bays in Cape Colony?”

EMMA.  “Only one, papa, and that is Donkin’s Bay.  We must then sail along the Hottentot coast until we arrive at Walwisch Bay.”

GEORGE.  “Papa, are not the Boschmen dwelling somewhere near here?”

MR. WILTON.  “Why, they are a wandering people, and can scarcely be said to hold any definite territory of their own; but they are to be found north of Cape Colony, and are thus designated from the place of their residence, which is in the bushes or woods.  They are a dirty, wild, savage people, and make a boast of the most inhuman actions, to get glory from their companions.  They neither cultivate the ground, nor tend cattle, but are dependent on the chase for animal food.”

MR. STANLEY.  “Many superstitions and traditions are entertained by these rude people; among them there is one related by Sir J.E.  Alexander as follows:—­

#A Transformation.#

“It is believed in the land that some of the Bosch people can change themselves into wolves and lions when they like.  Once on a time, a certain Namaqua was travelling in company with a Bosch woman carrying a child on her back.  They had proceeded some distance on the journey, when a troop of wild horses appeared; and the man said to the woman, ’I am hungry, and I know you can turn yourself into a lion:  do so now, and catch us a wild horse, that we may eat.’

“The woman answered, ‘You’ll be afraid.’

“‘No, no,’ said the man; ’I am afraid of dying of hunger, but I am not afraid of you.’

“Whilst he was yet speaking, hair began to appear at the back of the woman’s neck, her nails began to assume the appearance of claws, and her features altered.  She set down the child.