626 JOURNAL OP THE 



it is a conglomerate of large and small bits of basalt, in 

 a loamy and chalky soil, closely covered in many places with 

 dried grass, forming natural hay and furnishing scanty 

 fodder to cattle and goats, when they have not the Tamarix 

 to nibble at. This soil only wants water, and we may guess, 

 from these remnants of its vegetation, how fertile it must 

 be, when supplied during the brief rainy season with some 

 moisture.* To the above-mentioned plants of the plain, (if I 

 may so express myself, where there is only hill and dale), I 

 could add subsequently very few more. A small Euphorbia, 

 perhaps prostrata or serpyllifolia> but appearing new to me, 

 a few littoral plants, especially Zygophyllum album or sim- 

 plex ; and on the shore, Cassia obovata, just then in blossom 

 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 

 1 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 tne 

 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 



* According to the natives, the wet season lasts from the beginning 

 of August to the middle of October, pretty regularly, but sometimes very 

 little rain falls. 



