20 M. SEEMANN’S JOURNAL. 
On the slopes of the hills forming the Happy Valley, just above the 
burial-ground, a number of rare plants are to be found. I gathered 
several species of Oak, the Synedrys ossea, Lindl., the nuts of which are 
eaten, a beautiful Chestnut (Castanea, sp.), Memecylon nigrescens, H. et 
Arn., Camellia euryoides, and C. Japonica. The latter was about 
twenty-four feet high, but this is by no means its greatest size: in 
Some parts of the island it attains a height of fifty feet, and a stem 
more than a foot in diameter. To discover new species is highly 
gratifying, yet I think it is equally so to meet again with plants which, 
like the Camellia Japonica, were favourites in our native land, and have 
been familiar to us from our infancy. 
The view from Victoria Peak is beautiful, and amply repays the ex- 
ertions even of him who ascends the mountain merely for the sake of 
the surrounding scenery. The spectator may discover more than thirty 
islands, and a vast number of Chinese and European ships: he has a 
complete panorama of the town of Victoria, its magnificent edifices, 
roads, bridges, canals, and other public works which have been con- 
_ structed since the occupation. The peak itself, as well as the whole 
ridge of the Hong-Kong mountains, is destitute of woody plants; but 
on the slopes, in the little groves and valleys, a mass of shrubs, chiefly 
evergreens, and a luxuriant herbage, are met with. I noticed Gardenias, 
— Rubi, Azaleas, Ardisias, Gordonias, Bekea frutescens, Anthemis Chinensis 
_ with small yellow flowers, Limonia citrifolia, Strychnos colubrina, Smi- 
laces, Orchidee, and Ferns. Among the latter is the curious Nephrolepis 
tuberosa, Don, having large tuberous roots like Potatoes. In some of 
o ane rivulets of the mountain I found a number of gold-fishes (Cyprinus 
auratus, Linn.). Several of them were safely carried down to the town — 
and deposited in a jar. | 1 
. "There are at present in Hong-Kong two gentlemen, Dr. H. F. Hance | 
and Lieut.-Colonel Eyre, who take great interest in botany. They 
made several excursions with me to the most profitable localities, and 
. pointed out some of the rarest productions of the flora. Dr. Hance 
was unfortunately suffering from intermittent fever, which has shaken - 
. him so much during the last four months that he will be compelled 
to return to England before the commencement of the rainy season. 
He was, therefore, unable to accompany me very frequently. Lieut. 
. Colonel Eyre makes almost daily excursions. He possesses, be- 
Sides a considerable herbarium, a beautiful set of coloured drawings 
