Trained in horticulture at Syon House, London, Paterson was sent in 1777 to the Cape of Good Hope to collect plants for the estate of the Countess of Strathmore, undertaking four journeys into the South African interior, partly in the company of Robert Jacob Gordon and Jacob van Reenen. In the course of his travels the author penetrated as far as Namaqualand on the west, and the Great Fish River on the south-east. Although the principal feature of the work is a description of the botanical specimens collected ... there are many interesting notes respecting the natives, with a few remarks on the Dutch Colonists. The colored plates mainly depict botanical specimens. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.