VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 57 
and bearing a corymb of rose-coloured blossoms, rising from 
the terminal cluster of leaves. Having noticed this object 
through the telescope from the deck, I of course wished to 
obtain the flower, and landing, I asked two negroes (from 
Sierra Leone) who accompanied me, whether they would 
procure it; but they both declared it impracticable, because 
of the high grass. I therefore cut a way with my knife ; but on 
reaching the tree, I found it too lofty for me to get to the top 
without loss of time; the period for which the boat was lent 
me having expired. To-day, I succeeded again in obtaining 
the boat for a short while; and I found fortunately one 
amongst the negroes who climbed the tree, about 16 feet high, 
and gathered a few branches with an iron hook. I record 
this circumstance here intentionally, as an instance of my 
nearly daily difficulties. Amongst the few plants which 
I collected, there were many that occur along the whole 
coast; as, for instance, Sarcocephalus. According to what 
Mr. Schön told me, the name of this place, which. I had 
considered to be Ibu, is Abóh. In the afternoon we left Ibu 
(Abàh,) and steamed it by moonlight till eleven o'clock, when 
we cast anchor. Sunday, 29th, we did not move. Weather 
very bad. 
Monday, August 30.—Started by day-break. Neither the 
country nor the river offered any thing new. $ 
Tuesday, August 31.— I had twice an opportunity of 
visiting the shore for a short while. The first time, I found a 
terrestrial Orchidea, 4 feet high: a great part of the jungle 
on the right shore consisted of a Fig-tree, with long branch- 
lets, covered with fructification shooting out from the old. 
Wood: its white bark was visible at a great distance. The 
ants were here dreadfully troublesome. At two o’clock, when 
Passing an island, we perceived a strong very sweet smell, 
(almost like the Tetracera which I had collected on the 24th), 
but I could not descry any flowers through the telescope. 
In the afternoon we saw, at a distance, on the left shore, the 
first low hills, and soon afterwards a water-course on the 
