MB. MANN'S ASCENT OF FERNANDO PO. 27 
Aecount of the Ascent of Clarence Pe k, Fernando Po, altitude 
10,700 feet. By Mr. Gustav MANY, Botanist to Dr. Baikie's 
Niger Expedition. In a Letter to Sir W. J. Hooxzn, F.R.S., 
F.L.S., &c., and communicated by him. l 
[Read March 7, 1861.] 
Sır —As I informed you already in my letter before last, that 
I did not succeed at my first trial in ascending the mountain, I 
will give you now an account of my second trip, which was suc- 
cessful. On the 23rd of March I left Clarence for the second 
time, and commenced my ascent from here, keeping first eastwards 
and then turning south, and attaining the first day a height of 
1300 feet. After I had passed two large Boobee towns, Barapa 
and Basile, finding the vegetation already quite different, I stop- 
ped to collect the few plants in blossom, aud some nice Ferns, 
especially Trichomanes and Aspleniums. The trees were much 
overgrown by Orchids, Ferns, and Begonias, while moss hung a 
foot in length from the branches: there was in consequence much 
dry wood at the top of the trees. There were no Palms, nor her- 
baceous plants 15 feet high, as in the lower part. The tempera- 
ture here in the mornings was 64°, at noon 70°, and in the even- 
ings 66? Fahr. At about 1000 feet up I found the fine large Tri- 
chomanes growing on the ground, and the large Acrosticum P : 
these I sent in the Wardian case, and have dried specimens of 
both still here. 
On the 27th of March I ascended to a height of 5000 feet: 
during this ascent I found the fine Cyathea. This species seems 
to form larger groups than other Cyatheas do, many averaging 
from 10-15 trunks, some of which rise to a height of 30 feet. 
The Onychium ? of which I sent a specimen in the Wardian case, 
grows only as an epiphyte on this tree-fern. I also found on this 
ascent the fine Antrophyum ?, resembling the Platycerium of the 
tropical part of the island; and the Liliacee, of which I sent six 
bulbs; and the Calanthe like Veratrifolia. All the Trichomanes 
grew between 1000 and 5000 feet. At this height I stopped one 
day, and ascended on the 28th to a height of 6000 feet, and on 
the 29th to 8500 feet; up to which height I found very little dif- 
ference in the vegetation. From this place I was obliged to send 
à Krooman down to fetch more provisions, which, together with 
daily rain, obliged me to remain here six days. During this time 
I was compelled to sleep on the wet ground, placing my blanket 
