to 



194 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



In the middle of February, one small plant ex- 

 cepted,* not a bloom was to be found on this island, 

 although in other winters (mild as this was severe) 

 one plant or another is at this season in bloom. I 

 looked about, to no purpose also, for the ' Cabbage- 

 tree,' which was once plentiful there, but now is as 

 good as exterminated, because everywhere cut down 

 during the war for fortifications and bulwarks. But 

 there are a few still left on Morris and other neigh- 

 boring islands, whither I had no occasion to go. The 

 trunks of this palm-tree are excellent for breast- 

 works ; their fibre and whole structure being so soft 

 and flexible that no ball can go through, and besides 

 they do not split. They last but a few years exposed 

 to the air, and hence are for temporary use only. The 

 works on Sullivan's Island, which the English men- 

 of-war grew weary of firing upon at the first attack 

 upon Charleston in 1776, are built largely of these; 

 as also most of the works in the city on the Bay side. 



* Houstonia pusilla Radix fibrosa, tenuis. Caulis pollicaris, 

 acute tetragonus, setulis paucis (microscopic* tantum observan- 

 dis) scaber, simplex vel subramosus, terminatus ramis duobus 

 et pedunculo intermedio, aut hoc tantum. Folia opposita, 

 petiolata, ovata, basi apiceque acuta, glabriuscula, margine re- 

 flexo ciliata. Petioli longitudine fere foliorum, membrana 

 laxa coadunati. Pedunculus terminalis, caule saepe longior, 

 tetragonus, erectus. Flos longe minor, quam Houstonise caeru- 

 leae, erectus. Calyx parvus, basi hemisphaericus, quadrifidus : 

 laciniis lanceolatis, acutis, erectis. Corolla infundibuliformis. 

 Tubus calyce duplo et quod excurrit longior, medio incrassa- 

 tus. Limbus tubo brevior, quadripartitus : laciniis ovatis, 

 acutis. Stamina 4 in medio tubi corollae; Antherae flavae. 

 Germen compressum. Stigma bifidum. In habitus this is the 

 Houstonia carulea, and the bloom is so similar I take it to be 

 a variety of Houstonia, although I have not seen the fruit. 



