to me to differ little in botanical characters from the Caltha of Europe. The bishma or bikhma is also, I believe, called mitha, although I am not certain but that this name may be also given to the following species, which deserves the most serious attention, as the bikhma is used in medicine, and is a strong bitter, very powerful in the cure of fevers, while the plant that will be next mentioned is one of the most virulent poisons."

"This dreadful root, of which large quantities are annually imported, is equally fatal when taken into the stomach and when applied to wounds, and is in universal use throughout India for poisoning arrows; and there is too much reason to suspect for the worst of purposes. Its importation would indeed seem to require the attention of the magistrate. The Gorkhalese pretend, that it is one of their principal securities against invasion from the low countries; and that they could so infect all the waters on the route by which an enemy was advancing, as to occasion his certain destruction. In case of such an attempt, the invaders ought, no doubt, to be on their guard; but the country abounds so in springs, that might be soon cleared, as to render such a means of defence totally ineffectual, were the enemy aware of the circumstance. * This poisonous species is called bish, bikh, and kodoya bish, or bikh; nor am I certain whether the mitha ought to be referred to it, or to the foregoing kind."

“The nirbishi, or nirbikhi, is another plant of the same genus, and, like the first kind, has no deleterious qualities, but is used in medicine. The president of the Asiatic Society, in a note annexed to Dr. Roxburgh's account of the Zedoary, gives the nirbisha, or nirbishi, as a Sangskrita or Hindwi name of that plant, which has not the smallest resemblance to the nirbishi of the Indian Alps. In fact, the nomenclature of the materia medica among the Hindus, so far as I can learn, is miserably defective, and can scarcely fail to be productive of most dangerous mistakes in the practice of medicine."

* "In fact, our troops, in a subsequent invasion, suffered nothing from such means; nor do I believe that they were attempted."

The specimens.of the Bishma which I have given to the India House are, in the catalogue, called Caltha bisma, although it differs much in habit from the Caltha palustris ; and it has only four petala, and four germina, which may perhaps induce some to consider it as a new genus.

CALTHA BISMA.

Radix tuberosa. Caulis herbaceus, simplex, cubitalis, glaber. Folia caulina plura alterna, petiolata, cordata, subrotunda, glabra, venis reticulata, subquinquenervia, quinqueloba lobis cuneatis, apice incisis, acutis. Petiolus longus, amplexicaulis, glaber.

Panicula terminalis, rara pedunculis elongatis, paucifloris, ex apice caulis, vel ex foliorum superiorum axillis. Bractea subsessilis, trifida, parva, pedicello paulo infra florem posita. Flores parvi, erecti, virides, extra nigricantes.

Calyx nullus. Petala quatuor, crassa, ovalia, concava, obtusa, ruda. Filamenta plura, hypogyna, brevissima. Antheræ erectæ, bisulcæ, utrinque emarginatæ. Germina quatuor subulata, polysperma. Styli crassi, subulati. Stigmata simplicia, acuta.

The specimens of the Nirbishi sent to the India House I have called

CALTHA NIRBISIA.

Radix tuberosa. Caulis herbaceus, simplex, glaber, Folia caulina plura alterna, petiolata, cordata, triangularia, pilis raris brevibus, marginem versus aspersa, subquinquenervia, venis reticulata, lobis cuneatis incisis acutis quinquefariam divisa. Petiolus longissimus, amplexicaulis.

The specimens of the Kodoya bish, or Radix toxicaria, which I sent to the same collection, are called

CALTHA COdua.

Radix tuberosa. Caulis herbaceus, erectus, cubitalis. Folia caulina plura alterna, utrinque pilosa, nervosa, venosa, ovata, peltata, lobis multis incisa cuneatis, iterum lobatis. Lobuli obtusiusculi, incisuris duabus apicem versus folii profundis.

ART. VIII.-Observations on the Physical Geography of the South of Africa. By JOHN DAVY, M. D. F. R. S. &c. Communicated by the Author.

THE day upon which we anchored in Table Bay was particularly interesting. As we sailed along the shore, seldom more than three miles off, we had a fine view of the bold coast, extending from the Cape of Good Hope to Table Bay. The weather was favourable, and the wind was blowing a gale from the south-east. Although we seldom obtained a glimpse of Table Mountain, through the cloud which hung over it, yet we could easily distinguish the minute features of the lower hills, many of which rose abruptly from the sea. The character of the scenery of this shore is naked boldness. Nothing presents itself to give an idea of fertility or cultivation. Not a tree is to be seen, nor a field, nor a green patch; and till near Table Bay, not a dwelling nor a vestige of man. Rugged rocks-heaps of sand-parched hills-arrest the eye in every direction. This is the dry season, and no doubt the country, which is naturally arid, appeared to disadvantage.

It was curious to observe how the wind passed down through every opening of the mountains. Even at the distance of a mile or two from land, the wind, which was blowing directly off it, was impregnated with fine dust, which produced a very unpleasant effect upon our eyes.

The very great haziness all round the horizon, was very remarkable, as well as the clouds, which, notwithstanding the violence of the winds, rested on the Table Mountain and the higher hills. The formation of this haziness, and of the clouds on the hills, is no doubt connected with the great difference of temperature, in the first instance, between the south-east wind, and the current which it crosses, and again between this wind and the temperature of the water near the shore.

March 18.-In Table Bay, 5h A.M. 75°, 52°, 5° S.E. strong; the sky was pretty clear, and a cloud on Table Mountain. After breakfast we landed. As the dust was blowing about so as to be very troublesome, the glass windows

in the house we inhabit, are, according to custom, closed, so that the air is unpleasant, hot, and close. The temperature of the room at 3h P.M. is 75°.

March 19. At Cape Town.-The following are the specific gravities of the salt water which I took up at sea in different places. They were obtained by a small balance. The experiments were made in a close room, and most of them repeated twice, the temperature of the air being 76°, and that of the water tried 80°.

At the anchorage in 7 fathoms in Table Bay 1 mile from land

10250

On the shore near the Jetty,

10250

Water from the stream from Table Mountain,

10000

March 23d, Cape Town.-The temperature of the fine stream with which Cape Town is supplied with water from Table Mountain, was 73° at the fountain, and 87° at another place, a difference arising from local causes. The temperature of a well behind the house at Green Point, was 63°. It was in a sandy soil, resting on clay, about 80 feet deep, and protected from the weather by a wellroofed little building. The range of the thermometer in Cape Town is said to be about 20° above or below the mean temperature, occasionally reaching 86° in the hottest weather in summer, and falling to 32° in winter. Now and then a little ice has been observed on a small pool at Green Point. A change of 30° or 32° of temperature has been observed to take place in twenty-four hours.

The prevailing winds here are the south-east and northwest, the former blowing during the summer and autumn months, and the latter during the winter and spring. The south-east wind is generally dry and hot, and often so violent as to upset carriages. In the latter end of autumn, this wind is occasionally cold. When it prevails, a cloud generally rests on Table Mountain. It is probably heated in its course overland from one shore to the other.

The north-west and north-east winds are cool and moist. The rainy season is the winter. The rains in winter are heavy, and are said to last sometimes several days without interruption. Showers occasionally occur in spring, autumn, and summer, and are generally slight. The barometer stands unusually high during the south-east winds.

Clouds are seen on Table Mountain, not only during the south-east winds, but likewise during the north-west; and indeed whenever the wind, from whatever quarter it blows, is violent. On the contrary, during calm weather, or when the wind is gentle, the mountain is generally uncovered.

March 27th.-Accompanied by Colonel Hardy, I yesterday ascended Table Mountain. We set out on foot at 11 o'clock A.M. and reached the summit about 2 P.M. and after remaining on the mountain about two hours we descended. During our ascent the sun was very troublesome, and the heat rather oppressive. In some sheltered places the stones in the path were so much heated that they could scarcely be held in the hand. On the summit the air was cool even in the sunshine. The shade of the mountain having preceded us during our descent, we enjoyed the cool air, scented with sweet-smelling shrubs, which are here very abundant. The sky being very clear on the top, we had a fine prospect of the country below, of Cape Town and Bay, and of the distant mountains; and the nearer views of the scenery around us were truly grand. Nothing can be finer than the lofty and bold cliff's, and chasms, which present themselves to the spectator when looking down over the brink of the Table land.

As soon as I arrived at the Table land, I left my barometers in the shade to cool, and to acquire the temperature