6 FLORA OF THE NICOBAR ISLANDS. 
such variety of species, and in such profusion and luxuriance of growth, 
that by way of distinction, the grass-lands of the northern Nicobar 
Islands might without impropriety be designated as grass-heaths. Even 
the soft and undulating outline of the hills contributed to this fatiguing 
uniformity of scenery, very sparingly relieved by the scanty and small 
clumps of 4reca and Pandanus species. In this last respect the island 
of Bompoka differs. It has a rounded form and bold volcanic elevation ; 
it terminates abruptly, with an extensive crater-like depression, 
overgrown by a dense forest, in which Areca-palms rise above the 
other trees, while the sides are strikingly varied by a number of radi- 
ating ridges and valleys, resembling in this respect the ‘island of 
Madeira on a small scale, and exclusively covered with the before- 
mentioned grass-carpet. 
The heights, as well as the skirting flats, which form the greatest 
part of the area of these islands, participate in the sort of vegetation 
alluded to; but the more recently formed low-lands, though of less 
extent, are of far greater importance to the natives; and however 
different in regard to their origin and structure, the social character of 
many of their trees and shrubs is very striking, when contrasted with 
the varied constituents of the old forests. 
Along the coast extends a narrow slip of land, consisting of fragments 
of corals, mixed up with débris of old rocks, becoming more pre- 
dominant as the tract recedes from the sea. Here and there it is 
interrupted by precipitous rocks, or the accumulation of fresh water. 
On the whole, the slip is narrower and of less extent on the southern 
islands ; and, since it constitutes the principal portion of the cultivable 
land, the consequence of this disparity is, that the population of the 
northern islands is far greater than that of the others. 
The sea-beach is elevated some feet by the force of the wind and 
waves, and consists of dazzling white coral-sand; and, beyond the 
reach of the high tides, it shelters a narrow band of low, creeping 
plants, a kind of Ischemum, Dolichos luteus, and Convolvulus maritimus 
(so common on all tropical sea-shores) Beyond this band, wherever 
nature has not been disturbed, is seen a dense vegetation formed by two 
shrubby plants only, namely Tournefortia (argentea ?) and Scevola 
Taccada, to the exclusion of all others, and, indeed, of each other 
reciprocally. Thus, the former occurs in great abundance on the 
island of Trice, the latter not at all; while the reverse is the case on 
