343 
of variegated flowers that sweeten the atmosphere with their 
odour. At length, however, the branches begin to drop off, 
and the whole tree runs rapidly to decay. At this stage it 
is deserted by all those plants that had lent their foliage to 
grace its latter days, and the veteran is left to fall alone. 
“The surface of the ground is occupied chiefly by the 
Ferns. This extensive tribe seems to have been designed 
for the shade, as their vegetation is never more rapid, nor 
more luxuriant, than when they are buried in the most 
profound obscurity. This must be understood, however, 
with some limitation, there being several species that creep 
along the trunks of the trees; others which establish them- 
selves at once as parasites, high up among the branches; 
and not a few that elevate their spreading parasols on their 
proper stem to the height of many fathoms. 
“Those parts of the island that have been stripped of 
their native wood, and left in an uncultivated state, are 
annually overerown with a thick crop of hard, reed-like 
grasses, consisting, for the most part, of Anthistiria, Pani- 
cum, and Andropogon. At the commencement of the rainy 
Season, these grasses spring up with such rapidity, that in 
the course of a few weeks the ground is covered to the 
height of several feet, and exhibits an uninterrupted coat of 
verdure. ‘This pleasing colour, however, soon passes away, 
and is succeeded by a fiery brown of a very opposite 
character, Vegetation now ceases entirely, and the sun and 
wind, asserting their power, lay the whole prostrate along 
the ground, where it lies bleached to whiteness, until, on 
the return of the periodical rains, a fresh crop springs up 
covers it from view, è —— 
* The above remarks, modified by a few peculiarities, are 
equally applicable to the Island of Bourbon. The superior 
ight of its mountains has rendered its alpine Flora rather 
more copious; but its coast, though destitute of coral-reefs, 
Shelves so suddenly, and is so violently and incessantly 
assailed bya heayy rolling surge, that hardly Stet — 
ts have established themselves on its shore." 
[To be continued.) 
