20 MR. CHARLES BARTER ON THE 



here in abundance for the supply of ships. Many fruit-trees have 

 become wild; this is especially the case with Anona mv/ricata, 

 JPersea gratissima, and Carica Papaya. Plantain, banana, mango, 

 lime, guava, form no inconsiderable portion of the " bush " in the 

 lower grounds ; the pine-apple too, established everywhere, will 

 defy extirpation. A Portuguese lady, long resident here, has 

 attempted cultivation on a large scale. Her houses are large, and 

 built in a style of magnificence unlooked-for out here : about them 

 are avenues and vistas lined with graceful cocoa-nut trees in the 

 background ; JatropJia multijlda^ JPoinciana pulcherrima, and a 

 species of Fpu/rcroya, planted at regular intervals, form the margin, 

 and have a very pretty effect. I was unsuccessful in reaching the 

 higher grounds, in two attempts, owing to the excessive rains and 

 the density of the forest. Under the tall trees during the rains it 

 is so dark and gloomy, that plants can hardly be seen ; I there- 

 fore gathered but few. Much of my collecting was done in a 

 boat, landing here and there whenever a footing could be obtained. 

 Dr. Baikie and I visited many of the small islets which lie just 

 detached in these bays, generally with a thorough drenching. 

 These are mere rocks rising 20 or 30 feet above the water; some 

 of them were covered almost exclusively with Oleandra nodosa, 

 fully exposed to the sun and sea-breeze. The plants were 3 or 4 

 feet high, quite shrub-like in character, beautifully in fructifica- 

 tion, and covered with lichens. On the steep sides of the larger 

 rocks grew an abundance of a very large Orchid, resembling a 

 Vanda in habit, but, like too many of the African Orchidaceae, 

 with small, yellow, insignificant flowers. Melastomacece, as usual, 

 were plentiful ; one species, 12 or 16 feet high, with magnificent 

 red flowers, would be a fine ornamental plant in our stoves at 

 home. I have sent, in the cases, plants of another species, of small 

 growth, rose-coloured flow ers, and scorpioid inflorescence. Species 

 of Musscenda, with their conspicuous white bracts, were common ; 

 also a shrub with spikes of purple flowers, like a Veronica : this 

 had a singular pair of white leaves at the base of each spike j 

 rendering it a very showy plant. Ferns were not wanting, — Dry- 

 maria, Asplenium, Elaphoglossum. Polytrichum commune I was 

 much surprised to find occupying the moist hollows on the top of 

 the rocks in dense tufts ; with it, almost buried in the moss, grew 

 TricJiomanes crispum. In shady places a very pretty fern was 

 growing, an Asplenmm somewhat resembling Darea cicutaria, but 

 of a still more elegant habit. 



Whoever has an opportunity of visiting the quiet ]iooks in the 



