BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 115 



morning of the 27th, when I left the ship in a small dingy, which was 

 going to the island of Makongai. This island, like many of the other 

 Feejee Islands, was almost destitute of vegetation. I travelled round 

 three parts of the coast, and found nothing worthy of notice. It is 

 about 900 feet in height on the face of the hills, and in the shallow 

 ravines there is certainly a number of trees intermixed with shrubs, 

 but I observed little worthy of notice. On travelling over its highest 

 summit I found a few straggling Cocoa-nut-trees, also a number of - 

 Pandanus-trees in fruit, and of course made a collection as usual. I 

 ought to have mentioned that the small dingy was sent to the above 

 island with four days' provisions for two of the ships' boats, which are 

 surveying the surrounding reef, etc.; and Captain Denham, with his 

 usual kindness, did not fail to give me an opportunity of proceeding 

 thither, that I might examine its botanical character. In conclusion I 

 may state that all my live plants are planted in boxes ; the Rev. Mr. 

 Binner has been so kind as to give me full permission to make use of 

 his garden and a small summer-house, where they are now in very good 

 condition. * 



BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



Notes on the Vegetation of the Island of St. Kill's (West Indies) ; being 



extracts of a Letter from the Governor, Hercules G. R. Robinson, 

 Esq., dated Government House, St. Kitt's, January 29, 1857. 



" I must mention to you however that I am but a poor botanist, and 

 I will not therefore send you anything until I hear from yon, as I 

 might only send you things which, though they might appear to me 

 very beautiful, might bear no value in your eyes. We have several 

 gentlemen in the Islaud who have a little smattering of knowledge 

 upon the subject, and we have many very beautiful gardens, full of 

 plants and flowers, which have been imported from every quarter of 

 the globe. We have innumerable kinds of Cactuses, the names of 

 which I am unable to give you. Within a mile from this house there 

 are several hundred acres of hilly, uncultivated land, literally covered 

 with the Turk's Cap Cactus. I can send you any quantity of them 

 which you would care to have. All sorts of Cactuses appear to grow 

 peculiarly well here, and attain a great size. The fences arc almost 



