628 JOURNAL OF THE 



beetles. On the whole I have collected here about eighty 

 or ninety Phanerogamia in flower, 



Wednesday, June 6. — Towards the evening we quitted this, 

 certainly most sterile island, after a stay of thirteen days. 

 I had been most anxious to visit the adjacent island, which 

 from all accounts appeared more interesting ; but this wish 

 could not be indulged, the uncertainty of our departure 

 rendering such an excursion hazardous. However, the 

 Wilberforce had now to go there, (to Terrafal Bay) for water. 

 We anchored off St. Antonio on the same evening, without 

 exactly recognising the spot where we were. In the morning 

 we descried the green shore, proving to be the valley which 

 was to furnish the water. There is a plantation intersected 

 by a clear brook, full in the upper part, but caught in ponds 

 near the coast, for the purpose of irrigating the grounds ; and 

 as the distance is considerable, the ground very dry, and the 

 conduits ill contrived, much valuable water is lost. It 

 would be better to conduct the water in the exact direction 

 of the chief valley, which would shorten its way to the 

 coast considerably. The map of Vidal, however excellent, 

 is not quite correct as regards this valley. Our short stay 

 did not allow me to visit the whole valley. Close to the 

 shore were many plants of Asclepias gigantea, whose shining 

 coriaceous leaves attracted notice, even from on board ship. 

 The plantation consists chiefly of some Sugar-cane, Cotton, 

 Papaya, Citrons, Limes, Guavas, Ricinus, Curcas, and Figs. 

 Higher up the valley Bananas are chiefly grown, with Cassia 

 occidentalis, Cocoa and Capsicum. Amongst the plants on 

 the sandy shore, there were frequently Argemone Mexicana, 

 Heliotropium, a Sonchus, several Grasses, &c. The other 

 indigenous plants correspond mostly with those of St. Vin- 

 cent, but grow more luxuriantly. The same Sida was 

 common ; the usual Euphorbia (prostrata ?), Cassia obovata, 

 TYibulus terrestris, the leafless Asclepiadea of St. Vincent, 

 Borago Africana and Tamarix Senegalensis were also found 

 here ; in the part of the plantation nearest the shore grow* 

 an Indigo/era (near Ind. Anil) a new species of Phacu. [I *•»■ 



