58 
the crevices of the rock. In favourable situations it grows to 
the height of 20 feet and upwards, measuring from 12-18 
inches in diameter. Its trunk is extremely crooked and 
twisted, but the wood is hard, close-grained, and, according 
to the report of a ship-carpenter, who examined it, would 
make excellent timbers for vessels of 60 tons and under. Its 
bark possesses a slight degree of astringency. Owing to the 
lightness of the soil, and the frequency of high winds, these 
trees rarely stand upright, but lean against the ground, and 
cross each other in such a manner, as to make it a business of 
extreme difficulty to penetrate to any distance through the 
wood. 
** Besides the Phylica, there are only two shrubby plants 
on the island, both of which belong to the genus Empetrum, 
and may be only varieties of one and the same species. "They 
possess no quality to recommend them, but that they grow on 
the most barren spots, where nothing else could vegetate. 
* Of the herbaceous plants, the most remarkable is a gigan- 
tic species of Spartina (S. arundinacea). This grass overruns 
the whole of the island, from the upper edge of the table land 
down to the sea-shore, accommodating itself to all soils and 
situations. It springs up in large close tufts, which when full 
grown, are borne down by their own weight, and lean upon 
each other in such a manner that a man may roll himself over 
them without any danger of sinking. Its stems grow to the 
length of 6 or 7 feet, and are of a solid, almost ligneous, 
texture, and covered with a profusion of leaves. This grass 
makes an excellent and durable thatch, and the young leaves 
are eaten by horses and oxen. 
* The Wild Celery grows in nasi over all the low 
ground, and attains a great size, its stem sometimes measuring 
upwards of 3 inches in diameter. It possesses in a high 
degree the flavour of the garden celery, and by proper man- 
agement might be brought to equal it in every respect. 
* A species of Chenopodium (C. tomentosum), of a strong 
balsamic odour, is common round the cantonment. An infu- 
sion of the dried leaves of this plant is used as a substitute for 
tea by the Hottentots sent down in charge of the cattle. The 
