314 DR. HOOKER’S MISSION TO INDIA. 
Zygophyllee, Fagonia, and some Rubiacee were plentiful; a fili- 
form Muthiola (?) and a suffrutescent Campylanthus, a pretty Acan- 
thaceous plant, two Labiate, one Boraginea, and some Serophu- 
larineæ were also common. A fine fox crossed my path; but I 
saw none of the apes which are said to be common on the rocks, 
and thus to strengthen the resemblance between this peninsula 
and that of Gibraltar. Before 9 o'clock, a.m., the heat became 
considerable, and I was glad to get back to Capt. Haines’, with 
barely time enough for breakfast, and to get my collections put 
into paper before going on board and starting for Ceylon, where 
we arrived on the last day of the year, and where I found Gardner, 
who had been waiting our arrival at Colombo for three weeks, . 
and then started for Point de Galle, where we were in company 
with His Excellency the Governor of Ceylon. He was looking 
well, and extremely happy, and is evidently in high favour with 
the authorities. 
“ Moozuffer," Madras Roads, Jan. 5, 1848. 
Here we are at last off the shores of India, for I considered 
myself so at Ceylon, where we landed the other day. My last 
letter was from Aden, since when we have been on the Indian 
Ocean, the most uninteresting sea I ever crossed in my wander- 
ings, without birds, or any fish but flying-fish, to relieve the 
monotony of the cruize. We sighted Cape Comorin last Thursday, 
and on Friday forenoon landéd at Point de Galle, Ceylon, afew 
hours after the “ Precursor,” and with the same object in view, 
namely, to lay in coal for the rest of the voyage. I dare say you 
thought of us on Christmas day, and so we all did of England and 
English friends. You, I hope, were more comfortably circumstance; 
for in addition to other discomforts we had adverse winds and 
a rolling sea. The “ Moozuffer” which was sent to Suez for us, 
is in one sense a splendid vessel, more like a yacht than à 
man-of-war, but neither fitted nor provided with any accommoda- 
tion suited to the Governor-General of India. ‘The Captain has 
only the table to supply, &c., and this he has done well. Any- 
thing more sumptuous in the way of fare on board ship I never 
met with; but there are neither cabins nor bedding for any of his — 
