28 MR. MANN’S ASCENT OF FERNANDO PO. 
and other things under an oil-cloth when the rain commenced at 
night, and selecting for myself a dry place where the rain did not 
come through the small roof of palm-leaves. This, under a tem- 
perature of 42° Fahr. at night, was a trial to my health; but one 
- must learn everywhere, and I have learnt a great deal since I 
came here. The vegetation here consists mostly of herbaceous 
plants, as Graminee, Salvia, Rubus, &c. The largest trees here 
(50 feet high) are Araliacew and Composite. On the 3rd of 
April I reached the top, about two o'clock in the afternoon. Un- 
fortunately a storm of rain and hail spoilt the enjoyment with 
whieh I should otherwise have seen the whole island spread out 
before me; but what was worse than this, I found the entire sum- 
mit burnt, and no vegetation except grass, which was just begin- 
ning to sprout. This is done by the Boobees, to drive the deer 
to the lower part of the island. I did not meet with a Boobee 
above 1000 feet elevation. The top is formed by the highest side 
of the lergest crater, which is about 40 feet deep. There is good 
and deep soil up to the top, and only on the inside of the largest 
crater are a few rocks visible. Lower down there are more small 
craters. At this time the temperature was 54? F., and the mini- 
mum at night 39? F. 
Shrubs grow to between 400 and 500 feet of the top, and 
amongst them I found an Erica 8-10 feet high, which gave me 
much pleasure. I regret very much that I could not stop some 
days longer, but I ran the risk of making myself a cripple for 
life; I therefore commenced my descent on the 4th. Again it 
was too late in the season, for which reason very few plants were 
in blossom. 
At the bottom of the highest part I found a small lake, perhaps 
only the result of the very heavy rain of the last few days. The 
large Hypericum forms the greatest part of the bush, and has a 
very pretty appearance from its fine light-green foliage. The first 
day I descended to 5000 feet, and on the 5th I went down to 
1300 feet, where I remained six days, making excursions in dif- 
ferent directions. The tree-fern and other living plants were 
collected the day before I set off on my return to Clarence, which 
place I reached on the 13th of April, and immediately commenced 
the arrangement of my plants, &c., being anxious to send away 
my collections by the last mail. After coming down from the 
mountain I needed a little rest, but having this work before me, 
I rather overworked myself, and took fever, which was the reason 
why I did not write to you by the last mail. I should be very 
