20 ` MR. CHARLES BARTER ON THE 
here in abundance for the supply of ships. Many fruit-trees have 
become wild; this is especially the case with Anona muricata, 
Persea gratissima, and Carica Papaya. Plantain, banana, mango, 
lime, guava, form no inconsiderable portion of the * bush " in the 
lower grounds; the pine-apple too, established everywhere, will 
defy extirpation. A Portuguese lady, long resident here, has 
attempted cultivation on alarge scale. Her houses are large, and 
built in a style of magnificence unlooked-for out here: about them 
are avenues and vistas lined with graceful cocoa-nut trees in the 
background; Jatropha multifida, Poinciana pulcherrima, and а 
species of Fourcroya, planted at regular intervals, form the margin, 
and have a very pretty effect. I was unsuccessful in reaching the 
higher grounds, in two attempts, owing to the excessive rains and 
the density of the forest. Under the tall trees during the rains it 
is so dark and gloomy, that plants can hardly be seen; I there- 
fore gathered but few. -Much of my collecting was done in a 
boat, landing here and there whenever a footing could be obtained. 
Dr. Baikie and I visited many of the small islets which lie just 
detached in these bays, generally with a thorough drenching. 
These are mere rocks rising 20 or 30 feet above the water; some 
of them were covered almost exclusively with Oleandra nodosa, 
fully exposed to the sun and sea-breeze. The plants were 3 or 4 
feet high, quite shrub-like in character, beautifully in fructifica- 
tion, and covered with lichens. On the steep sides of the larger 
rocks grew an abundance of a very large Orchid, resembling a 
Vanda in habit, but, like too many of the African Orchidaces, 
with small, yellow, insignificant flowers. Melastomacee, аз usual, 
were plentiful; one species, 12 or 16 feet high, with magnificent 
red flowers, would be a fine ornamental plant in our stoves at 
home. I have sent, in the cases, plants of another species, of small 
growth, rose-coloured flowers, and scorpioid inflorescence. Species 
of Mussenda, with their conspicuous white bracts, were common ; 
also a shrub with spikes of purple flowers, like a Veronica: this 
had a singular pair of white leaves at the base of each spike, 
rendering it a very showy plant. Ferns were not wanting,—.Dry- 
maria, Asplenium, Elaphoglossum. Polytrichum commune I was 
much surprised to find occupying the moist hollows on the top of 
the rocks in dense tufts; with it, almost buried in the moss, grew 
Trichomanes crispum. In shady places a very pretty fern was 
growing, an Asplenium somewhat resembling Darea cicutaria, but 
of a still more elegant habit. 
Whoever has an opportunity of visiting the quiet nooks in the 
