MR. MANN’S ASCENT OF FERNANDO PO. 29 
glad to hear how the plants and specimens reached Kew, and if 
all was done to your satisfaction. It would also give me much 
pleasure if I heard that there was anything new among them. 
Yesterday I obtained a fruit spike of Raphia vinifera, 6 feet long, 
and so heavy that two men could scarcely carry it. Raphia is - 
scarce on this part of the island, but is more abundant on the 
eastern side, because that part is lower, and this palm prefers a 
low swampy situation. It is much used, all the houses being 
roofed with its leaves. Next time I will send you some mats made 
from it, as they may be of interest for the Museum. At the 
north-west bay of the island an excellent sort of yam grows, quite 
like a good potato; on the eastern side they grow much larger, 
but are not nearly so good in quality. On the eastern side I also 
found good cotton, growing quite wild, and only gathered by the 
people when they have nothing else to do. 
The whole island is uneultivated, with the exception of a small 
part near Clarence, for the yam-fields can scarcely be considered 
as cultivation. From February until now is the active time of 
year. In February the Boobees plant their yams, and in March 
the palm-oil season commences: the men bring home the nuts, 
and the women make and sell the oil. The island would yield ten 
times as much palm-oil, if the Boobees would make use of all that 
is growing; but these people have so few necessaries of life that 
they are not to be depended on. 
To ascend the mountain one needs a good oiled tent with a 
hammock, and tin boxes to put everything in: an hour after I 
had dried my plants by the fire they were wet again, and I had 
therefore great difficulty in preserving them. It also requires at 
least six Kroomen to assist in the dry season. I have now quite 
recovered my health, and hope shortly to benefit by change of air 
when the ship goes up the river. I never thought that the dif- 
ference of climate on the mountain and here would have had so 
much effect on me. On the mountain I enjoyed good health, 
exeept that I took a bad cold, from not having a sheltered place 
at night. By this mail I expected instructions from the Foreign 
Office, since till now I have received none at all, except that 
money has been granted to live on, and to go up the mountain, 
and for one Krooman to assist me. If the Expedition goes up 
the Niger again (which is doubtful), the collections will be entirely 
different. 
I enclose a little sketch of the Consulate, thinking it may be of 
interest to you. Consul Hutchinson and his lady are going home 
