VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 27 
and fruit, and extending about 600 feet (German?) up the 
mountains. This scanty harvest induced me to explore the 
higher regions for more botanical treasures; but even there 
l found frequently the same barrenness. The mountain 
chain, which borders the western side of the chief valley, 
rising frequently to 1500 feet, only afforded me a dozen 
species on its northern declivity. Two spots however were 
more productive, viz : the highest ridge and the next highest, 
situated rather more towards the middle of the island. The 
former is undoubtedly the richest, and hence goes by the 
name of “Monte Verte.” It is a basaltic rock, topping a 
gradually ascending table-land, according to my barometrical 
admeasurement, as high as 2500 feet. It is the only moun- 
tain in the island, having its summit always enveloped in 
clouds ; consequently there are, on its upper half, many well 
watered spots, whilst every thing else is burnt by drought. 
Of the difference between the lower and mountain vege- 
tation I can hardly speak; but it seemed clear that many 
plants, flourishing on the mountain, did also grow in the 
lower country, though now dried up. With the Tamarix of 
the plain, grows a shrubby Euphorbia (I believe the only 
frutescent Euphorbia of the island) commonly 2 or 8 feet 
high ; but sometimes a small tree, with twenty or thirty 
leaves amongst the blossoms at the ends of its branches, it 
is characteristic of the mountains and gives an agreeable 
verdure to the clefts, abounding in the upper valleys and 
reaching to the very top of Monte Verte. It appears to be 
the same found by Brunner at St. Jago, and mentioned as 
Euph. genistoides ? Y think it is an undescribed species. A : 
spreading, creeping, branching, completely leafless Ascle- 
piadea, occurred frequently, at 500 feet, on small flats, or 
pendent from rocks, sometimes with white flowers at the 
tips of the branches: A handsome Statice, a Campanula 
(related to dulcis) a Labiata with red flowers and coriaceous 
leaves, (Lavandula ?), a Sida, which I am ‘inclined to think 
new, with a Linaria, Borago Africana, Echium, Tribulus 
terrestris, Achyranthes aspera, Lotus sp., half a dozen Com- 
