BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 521 
lakes, owing to the brackish nature of the water. The 
peculiar habit of the Mangrove is to form a kind of rugged scaf- 
folding with its singular roots, so that half the lakes may be 
traversed without getting wet. These localities abound with 
alligators, which appear to be harmless. .4nona squamosa is 
abundant, forming groves. Two species of Capparis, shrubs 
of a conical form, are very conspicuous; also the sweet- 
scented Pisonia aculeata, a formidable climbing shrub; 
two kinds of Psidium, with fruit of grateful flavour; a few 
Melastomas, some gigantic Cotton-trees, (Bombax Ceiba) the 
. latter laden with Tillandsias and Broughtonia sanguinea, and 
immense festoons of Cactus triangularis, suspended by its own 
roots from the giant horizontal branches of this noble cotton- 
tree. On some of these trees I observed fourteen species of 
plants growing, Tillandsie, Orchidee, Ferns, Rhipsalis, and 
Cacti; the trunks are often 20 feet in diameter, and not less 
than 150 feet in height, and each may be said to present a 
botanic garden of itself. It became dark just before I 
reached the White Horses, (a large perpendicular rock so 
called) under which the road passes. 
Hearing a noise behind me,. I turned round, and 
beheld my servant and mule prostrate, which I quickly 
ascertained was caused by a piece of rock falling from above ; 
it did not however appear to have directly struck either man 
or mule. I procured light with some lucifers, and found 
my servant's toe cut off by the nail, and himself a good 
deal frightened ; the mule was cut in several places about the 
legs and head; after dressing the injuries as well as cir- 
cumstances would permit, with a little laudanum, I pro- 
ceeded, but the mule being a little lame, I myself walked to 
Morant Bay, the servant Edward Bryan riding my horse. 
air was now become cool and pleasant, and. I reached 
Morant Bay by ten o'clock, which was the first place I came 
to, (a small sea-port town, with about one thousand inhabi- 
tants) stopping all night at the only inn in the place, which 
Was pretty good for Jamaica, this island certainly not 
noted for tavern accommodation. 
VOL, II. 2a 
