Information respecting Botanical Travellers. 465 



cowitch plant (Stizolobium urens) was the most abundant, and, min- 

 gling in many places with a species of Dodder (Cuscuta graveolens ? 

 of Kunth), which twines over the hedges with its long yellow cord- 

 like branches, gives to the surrounding scenery a most singular ap- 

 pearance. 



On the 21st of October I proceeded to visit Dr. Serpa and the 

 Botanic Garden of Olinda, accompanied by a Mr. Nash, a young 

 English gentleman, to whom I am indebted for many acts of kindness. 

 There are three ways by which Olinda may be reached from Receife ; 

 one is along the sea-shore, but, from the loose sandy nature of the soil, 

 and the complete exposure of the traveller to the sun, this course is 

 seldom taken ; another is to proceed in canoes "up the river, by which 

 the large freshwater lakes that are situated behind Olinda empty 

 themselves into the sea. This stream runs almost parallel with the 

 shore, from which it is separated by a high sand-bank. The third 

 and last way was that which we pursued, namely, a road that keeps 

 the inland side of the river, though at a considerable distance from 

 it. This road is quite level, and at both ends are situated several 

 fine country-houses, though much of it passes through waste and 

 uncultivated land ; and a considerable portion is bounded by the lake. 

 Occasionally Mimosa hedges inclose it, where I observed a great 

 profusion of a small white-flowered Jasminum, which at the early hour 

 when we passed was perfuming the air with its delightful fragrance, 

 and a species of Securidaca, that, in similar situations displayed its 

 large clusters of rich purple flowers. The road-side was gay with 

 the pale yellow blossoms of Turner a trioniflora and the delicate pink 

 heads of the sensitive plant {Mimosa pudica). Along its shore the 

 lake was fringed with low shrubs, among which I observed Anona 

 palustris, Avicennia tomentosa and A. lucida, Laguncularia racemosa, 

 and a subarborescent kind of Caladium, while many parts of the water 

 were yellow with the flowers of Limnocharis Commersonii, and of a 

 large species of Utricularia. Towards Olinda I was delighted at 

 finding the surface of the water covered with thousands of the 

 splendid white blossoms and broad floating foliage of a water-lily 

 {Nymphcea ampla, DC). 



Besides the letter that I carried to Dr. Serpa from the President, 

 was another to Senhor Da Cunha, Professor of the French and En- 

 glish languages at Olinda ; and having called first on this gentleman, 

 he expressed his regret that he could not accompany us to the gar- 

 den, owing to his delicate state of health ; his looks indeed testifying 

 a tendency to consumption. 



The Botanic Garden is situated in a hollow, rather behind the 

 Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1. No. 6. August 1838. 2 h 



