WESTERN TROPICAL AMERICA. 61 
Panama received several visits, and its vegetation was seen at different sea- 
sons and under very different aspects. The seasons are regularly distributed 
into wet and dry ; in the wet season much rain falls, the atmosphere is loaded 
with moisture, and feels excessively hot and close from the impeded perspiration. 
Even the European acknowledges that this is not the period for exertion, and he 
lingers listlessly among the dense masses of herbaceous and indigenous plants 
which obstruct the roads and pathways of the forest. The atmosphere is reeking 
with that peculiar smell which is encountered on entering a hot-house. Very 
different is the dry season; the atmosphere is now clear, the sun brilliant, and 
exhilirating to those not too long accustomed to it, but the fugacious vegetation 
has past away, the avenues of the forest are unencumbered, and Leguminose, as 
small trees and shrubs, are in great abundance. Within the tropics, whenever 
the atmosphere for a lengthened period is conspicuous for its heat and dryness, 
we miss the arborescent ferns, and scitamineous and musaceous plants, which are 
usually regarded as the ‘“‘ sine qué non’ of tropical vegetation, and instead a promi- 
nence is given to arborescent Legwminose, often with a few Composite, Myrtacee, 
and Convolvulacee, and a sprinkling of congenial species. Increasing the dryness 
so as to verge on aridity, these are replaced by Cactee, growing even as trees with 
hard woody stems, succulent Euphorbiacee, and some aloes. There is nothing 
particularly inviting about such an assemblage, but as this state of climate is con- 
stant in some tropical regions, it becomes as strictly a tropical form of vegetation 
as that which acknowledges the prevalence of Endogene. 
The island of Taboga is productive in fruits, and supplies Panama with a 
considerable quantity. The inhabitants are accustomed to search under the trees 
after dusk, by the light of torches, for the fruit that has fallen. We here found 
that errors are very likely to arise from placing too much confidence in vernacular 
names. Many of the fruits were brought to us under the name “ guava,” without 
any second or specific name diagnostic of the fruit meant. . And at the same time 
at other places on the coast this term was applied to fruits not designated as such 
elsewhere; whilst the fruit known to us as the guava was not uncommon. The 
isthmus of Panama, if not so stern as to become mountainous, approaches very 
nearly to it, and such portions as were visited were covered by forest, not always 
very dense, and with situations of rich and productive soil. From some of the 
higher lands the views of the vallies around are excessively glowing, the summits 
of trees crowded together into a rich vesture of green, illumined by a fervent sun, 
whose brilliant dazzling rays few animated beings venture to brave; yet. from 
beneath the canopy are heard at times sounds various and strange to the traveller. 
Some of these upland views, of which America furnishes so many, are particu- 
larly interesting, and leave a lasting impression. The eye often commands not 
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