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IN JIEMOKY OF MARIANNE NORTH. 331
was keenly sensitive, and, in Bpitc of her self-reliance and conscious
power, she awaited the verdict of the impartial public with some
anxiety.
No sooner was this work completed than Miss North began to
make arrangements to visit South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius,
and tlie iSeychelles ; but she was unable to carry out the wliole of
this programme in consequence of the long intervals between the
ships sailing, quarantine arrangements, &c. She intended leaving
early in August, but delays arose from various causes, and I believe
it was October before she left.
As a specimen of her letters, I will give one from South Africa,
dated 9th December, 1882, which shows how bravely she was
struggling against breaking health and diminishing strength. It
also testities to the independence of her character, and her hearty
recognition of similar tastes and a love of nature in others, quite
apart from the social position of the person. Pedantry she abhorred,
and she prided herself, I think I may say, on placing, perhaps
somewhat ostentatiously, worth before wealth or station :
" . . . . I am very tired and older every day, but this
country is worth some fatigue to see. AYhat lies people tell about
it ! Over and over again I have been told it is the most wretched
country—no flowers, nothing ! and I find quantities of the most
beautiful things on every side. I have been staying a month here,
though I only thought to stay three days. I have done ten large
pahitmgs and three half-size. I have left eighteen large ones on
the walls at Mrs. Brounger's [at Wynberg, Cape Town.] I came
overland to Port Elizabeth, driving over the desert Karroo, and
even there I found treasures, and saw wonderful effects of mirage
and wild deer and long-legged birds. The railway down to the sea
took me through the most glorious swampy valley of Euphorbias,
prickly pears, and Aloes, with red flowers, often higher than men,
all tangled up in ivy geranium and Plumbago in full flower, and the
lovely wild vine, Cephalandra, with creamy flowers and scarlet
egg-fruit, hanging in the most lovely festoons. And every now and
then we came to groups of Kaflr-huts, and grand people stalking
about in bright red drapery and feathers in their heads, like
Mephistophules on the stage. It was all too wonderful ! A tamo
ostrich, too, walked on to the platform and made faces at the train
at one of the stations. Port Elizabeth is quite a model little
town for neatness and comfort, with the most delicious supply of
water brought thirty miles from the gorge near this. 1 rode up
there one day with a first-rate botanist, Mr. Hallack (also a grocer),
who came over from Saturday till Monday on purpose to take me.
lie is really a charming man, such as are rare in any quarter of the
world, and it was a great treat having a day with hnn. We found
three sorts of ihtrvnja. I have painted four : they are so very
lovely, and said to be parasites. On the very edge of the water-
fall we found quantities of L)i:ia, small but ex(]uisite, growing (like
its grand relative on Table IMountain) with its roots in the running
water ; and blue Aga[)anthus, Zaiuias and I'iiqjliorbias wore
clinging to the rocks above us, with any (juantity of Gladiolus,