342 
accordingly, the Flora Mauritiana limited almost exclu- 
sively to trees; to climbing plants, which possess the faculty 
of elevating themselves, by the aid of trees, to seek the air 
and the light; and to a less aspiring tribe, which, satisfied 
with a smaller share of those vivifying elements, court the 
obscurity of the shade. 
* On approaching the shore at the mouths of the rivers 
and bottoms of the bays, where the sea is always tranquil, 
the first object we encounter is a belt of Mangrove trees 
(Rhizophora mucronata, and gymnorhiza) edging the coast, 
and pushing even into the water. After we have crossed 
this belt, we come to another consisting of a great variety 
of trees and shrubs, that flourish within the reach of the 
sea-breeze. Among these we find the Hibiscus tiliaceus and 
populneus displaying their large bell-shaped yellow flowers; 
the Hernandia sonora, the Erythrina carnea and Coralloden- 
dron, with their superb spikes of scarlet blossoms, the 
Barringtonia speciosa, the Ehretia argentea, Scaevola Kenigits 
and Pemphis acidula. Along with these we also find various 
species of Convolvulus and Ipomea intertwined in elegant 
festoons, or trailing amongst the grass. 
* Round a considerable portion of the island we can 
plunge at once from the shore into the forest, where we are 
struck, at first sight, with the great size of many of the trees 
the height and straightness of their branchless trunks, and the 
comparative scantiness of their foliage. We are led, at the 
same time, to admire the various means by which nature 
as if ashamed of the decay of her works, strives to con 
the approaches of old age by the aid of borrowed verdure. 
The numerous tribe of climbers are seen winding their 
flexile stems round the trunks of the aged trees, until they 
have arrived at the highest branches; then shooting down 
their filiform suckers to take root again in the soil, 
thence absorb a fresh supply of juices. The creeping plants 
ascend more slowly ; but garnish their supporters 3$ t 
ascend with elegant wreaths of verdure. Lastly, the para- 
sitical plants, properly so called, the Orchidee and the 
Dracene fix themselves on the bark, and throw out spikes 
