VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 637 



were still small, as were the trees of Anona muricato. The 

 plants chiefly cultivated seemed to be Cassava, Sweet-potato, 

 Bananas, Plantains, Indian corn, and Rice, while Cassia occi- 

 dental was seen in every cultivated spot ; the same Spondias 

 as before grows also here ; Coffee had been introduced from 

 Monrovia ; here and there the indigenous species of Cotton had 

 been raised ; Gracilis hypogcea {Africana ?) I found planted in 

 one place. Of the native Flora, which, however, I have 

 hardly seen, Rubiacece, Convolvulacea, Leguminosce were 

 chiefly conspicuous. The same Anona (near chrysocarpa) 

 as in Grand Bassa grew here ; Pandanus Candelabrum on dry 

 ground, several sorts of Figs, amongst which is the small 

 fruited kind of Grand Bassa ; Jatropha Curcas was frequently 

 employed for fences. Amongst the underwood I found a 

 small shrubby tree, related to Belvisia (Napoleona), and 

 probahly a distinct genus nearly approaching it, it bore blos- 

 som and fruit ; the latter convinced me that I had seen the 

 same, and a species but little differing from it at Grand 

 Bassa. 



Sunday, July 1 8th. — We left Cape Palmas about 2, p.m., and 

 were off Cape Coast Castle on the evening of Saturday, the 

 24th. On Sunday, Captain Trotter issued a circular, prohibit- 

 ing any one belonging to the expedition from remaining all 

 night on shore, the unhealthy season here having begun. The 

 Gold Coast was of the greatest importance to me, the plants 

 described by Schumacher forming a sort of standard for the 

 African Flora ; but I deemed it best to be careful, and to 

 decline all friendly invitations to stay on land, although this 

 would have been of infinite advantage in collecting, and in 

 fact almost indispensable. 



The vicinity of the town exhibits no great fertility ; granite 

 and gneiss, often naked, extending to the coast. A few miles 

 inland, a fine black loam prevails, apparently very favourable 



put some Cocoa-nuts in the ground ; he then drove cattle over the spot, 

 that he might not incur the consequences of planting and covering them 

 with earth ! 



