2G0 ME. SWINBUEKE WARD OX THE COCO DE MER. 



on the subject of tlie destruction and preservation of the Lodoicene, 

 a copy of "which was forwarded to the Linnean Society ; and it was 

 necessary to select a tree contiguous to the beach, so that there 

 might be less difficulty in getting it into a boat for conveyance to 

 Port Victoria. I had not, therefore, many to choose from ; and 

 all the finest specimens are situated in almost inaccessible clefts 

 in the rocky hills that surround the property. The owner of the 

 property informed mo that it was useless uprootiug any of the 

 younger trees (those of tender years, at least) the stems of 

 which had not appeared above ground. Until the stem appears 

 (according to his statement) the socket is unformed, and the 

 whole base of the uprooted tree rots quickly on exposure to the 

 air. I am not, hoAvever, perfectly satisfied on this point ; the 

 socket must have a commencement ; but, as is the case with many 

 of the Palm-tribe, the base probably, though still progressing, is 

 still in a soft, fleshy condition, and apt to decay rapidly. 



One tree, cut down not long ago on this property, measured 

 186 feet, including the leaves. I had no idea they ever attained 

 so great a height. Two specimens standing close to the house in 

 which I was living, and which I measured roughly, could not have 

 been less than 150 feet. They Avere both males, quite straight, 

 equal in height and with most luxuriant tops, situated on a piece 

 of open, marsh}^ ground, of about four acres in extent, with no- 

 thing but sedgy grass around their bases. 



Praslin, altogether. Is a lovely little island, very rocky, but 

 nevertheless covered with dense vegetation, principally Casnarina 

 on the hills, but with fine timber-trees on the ^^ plateau" below 



Tacamacaj Terminalia^ Cafappa^ Hihiscits popitlneus (P), and what 



are called here Bois de Eose and Bois Blanc, both white woods, 

 much used for lining houses, ceilings, <fec. Oranges might be 

 most successfully cultivated In many parts of the island, as wild 

 Citrons, Limes, Lemons, Biggerrades, and Yangasai are very 

 abundant in all the sheltered valleys. The marshes are capable 

 of producing sufficient rice to supply all Seychelles; but next to 

 nothing is now grown, and rice is now selling here at seven dollars 

 a bag ! It is very difficult to get these Indolent people to do 

 anything to help themselves ; so long as they get a meal they 

 take no heed for the morrow, and life is so easy here that absolute 

 poverty is quite unknown. 



I must apologize for troubling you with such a long letter, es- 

 pecially when I have so little to communicate. 



I will ask Sir Henry Barkly to forward the Coco-de-Mer bulb 



