OF THE ANTARCTIC VOYAGE. 251 
the poor negroes, (the population consisting of free negroes 
and a few Portuguese,) and they were invariably attentive 
and kind, offering oranges and Agua-ardiente, or assisting to 
extract the thorns and spines, that, piercing through the 
trowsers and stockings, penetrated the flesh. Among the 
more interesting trees, a solitary Baobab (Adansonia digitata, 
see Botanical Magazine, Tab. 2791 and 2792) was observed ; 
not more than 60 feet high; but with a trunk 38* feet in 
circumference. 
From Porto Praya the direction of the vessels was easterly 
to the desolate rocks of St. Paul, lying a little north of the 
equator, and admirably described by Darwin; they are few 
in number, about GO feet high, and constantly washed by a 
tremendous surf. One boat was sent on shore, and another 
was intended to be despatched the following day with the 
botanist ; but the difficulty and danger of landing were found 
80 great, that the captain wisely declined allowing the attempt 
to be made again. A Sea-weed inhabits the marine edge, but 
it does not appear that any plant, even a Lichen, is to be seen 
on the rocks themselves. 
Still steering westward, there existed at one time, an idea of 
landing on the Brazilian coasts; but the course was then 
southerly till they made the little solitary island of Trini- 
dad in S. lat. 209, This exhibited small patches of vege- 
tation on the weather-side, which is flat, while the lee is very ee 
Tocky and steep ; so that the only spot where a lani | 
Could be risked was a rock, cut off, unfortunately, from th 
rest of the island by inaccessible precipices. Nought but a 
Fern and a Grass, and one or two species of Cyperus, were 
to be obtained. Near the summit of the highest hills and 
under some cliffs, about 2000 feet high, were descried small 
Stoves of trees,—apparently, for it was impossible to judge — 
correctly, Tree-Ferns ; while all along the shore lay the re- 
mains of prostrate, barked, white trunks, no living ones being 
sme . Adanson speaks of one in Senegal, which measured 30 feet in the 
diameter of its trunk, and which he estimated to be ám boi nem. 
.. 9ld I— The oldest organic monument," says Humboldt, “of our planet. | 
