VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 25 
Ranunculus grandifolius, Sempervivum sp., Sinapidendron 
frutescens, Lowe, Bystropogon punctatus, Hérit., Bupleurum 
salicifolium, Sol., Physalis pubescens, &c. According to my 
limited experience, the Flora of Madeira is of a thoroughly 
South-European character; only a very few plants, chiefly 
Dracena, pointing out an extra-European mixture. I donot 
speak of the neighbourhood of Funchal: a botanical garden 
there, established with proper judgment, would lead to 
brilliant results. A novice in travelling revels in the southern 
forms here first offered to his view. 
Of two individual plants I will only here observe, that the 
indigenous Parietaria is that known in Germany as P. diffusa. 
Of Cassia I only saw Cassia bicapsularis, L., the true species, 
flowering, but not in fruit, during my stay. Cassia ruscifolia, 
which is indigenous, according to Jacquin, in Madeira, Mr. 
Lowe assures me, certainly does not grow in the island ; and 
that Cassia occidentalis exists only in a single garden. The 
history of these species remains therefore still obscure. 
Tuesday, May 25.—Left Madeira in the evening. I had 
exposed myself too much during my last excursion to the 
waterfall, to the soaking rain, burning sun, and wet, in wading 
through brooks. The guide had committed an error; for 
these people engage to conduct you any where, whether they 
know the place or not. I was, consequently, several days 
unable to move ; and when we arrived, on Friday the 28th of 
May, in the port of Santa Cruz, I could do no more than . 
cast a few glimpses on the island. The next day I resumed my 
observations on the temperature of the sea; but my illness, 
which was an entire interruption of the digestive powers, 
continued till we reached Cape de Verd Islands. 
Thursday, June 3, we were off St. Vincent. We had 
mistaken the small adjoining Sta. Lucia for the former, and 
approached it so closely, that we could examine the nature 
of its shores, which gave only a prospect of wildness and 
sterility. Sailing along the high cliffs of the western coast of 
St. Vincent, I looked anxiously for some traces of vegetation, 
but only distinguished, far off, a few shrubs, and it was dark 
