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After covering a distance of some sixty miles by steamer, I landed about 

 midday, at a somewhat wild looking spot near to the site of the old Convict 

 Depot at Irois the point to which I had been directed to proceed. 



Da\-id Alexander, a native of some experience in forest travelling, was 

 engaged as porter and guide. 



After making arrangements for a place in which to sling my hammock for 

 the night, we set out to explore the immediate \'icinity, in order to determine in 

 which direction it would be advisable to begin work next morning. We found, 

 near the place at which we disembarked, three small watercourses containing 

 much stagnant water, owing to the fact that no rain had recently fallen. Large 

 quantities of the seeds or " drift fruit" of which I had come in search were found, 

 appearing to be" washed in and out by the tide, so I made a careful examination 

 of each in turn, by going up some distance, to ascertain if the fruits were to be 

 found in the water beyond reach of the ebb and flow. The first did not give any 

 encouragement, but in the second and largest one, we found seeds as far as we 

 went, and as the third terminated at a short distance from the shore in a small 

 lagoon, it was decided to devote attention to the largest on the following morning. 



We started about 6 a.m. and made our way up river. The seeds were found 

 so plentifully in the water, that 1 deemed it advisable to follow the main channel 

 without deviation, and while doing so, examined the trees on the banks by 

 shooting down twigs or leaves, and by climbing the more likely. 



This work was continued until noon, when a quantity of the seeds was dis- 

 covered lying on the ground beneath three large trees which grew close together. 

 I sent the £!uide up one of these, but when he threw down specimens, it was 

 found that they did not at all correspond to the description of Sacoglof.tis. The 

 second one was then examined, but the margins of the leaves were found to be 

 entire ; however, I directed him to search still higher on the same tree, when he 

 foimd fruits which showed it to be a different tree to that of which we were in 

 search. On examining the third tree, its leaves answered the description of 

 Sacoglottis, but the two distinctive glands were not sufficiently apparent to render 

 the identification certain . 



Continuing our way until we reached the head of the river, the seeds were 

 still plentiful, but not another likely tree was found, and we returned without 

 being definitely certain about the tree producing them. On the following 

 morning we again started early, but in another direction. 



Taking the bridle track which leads towards a small place called Chatham, 

 we followed it about three miles, and then turned into the high woods. 



Shortly afterwards, we came to a small watercourse in which again were 

 foimd plenty of the seeds, and near by, a tree resembling that about which I had 

 remained in doubt on the previous day. 



On examining young leaves little doubt as to its identity remained, for it 

 had, in addition to other characters, the two distinctive glands at the base of the 

 \ea,i-hlade, but, after a lengthy search, we failed to find either fruit or flowers. 



Continuing the search several other trees were found, all of which we 

 examined, and from one of these, three dry fruits were gathered, which positively 

 established its identity. Subsequently we found a small number of perfectly 

 fresh fruits under one of the trees, from it we also procured young flower buds, 

 and from another, an immature but sound fruit. All the fresh fruits found on 

 the gi'ound had been fed upon by animals, which had eaten away the bulk of the 

 fleshy pericarp, and the seeds were, at the time, being still further cleaned by 

 ants ; a fact amply illustrated by the specimens brought back. The idea, that 

 the pericarp or sarcocarp of the floating seeds, is worn away by the action of 

 water, appears therefore to be quite untenable. 



The marks upon the ripe fruits prove tliat the pericarp is eaten away by 

 frugivorous animals, and insects, such as squirrels, porcupines, ants, etc., etc., and 

 on tasting it myself, found it very pleasant, resembling in flavour a firm -fleshed pear. 



Those examples of the fruit which are foimd on the sea shore in more or less 

 perfect condition are fruits which have become dry on tlie tree, in which case the 

 pericarp is quite hard, and in tliis condition three good examples were secured 

 direct from the tree. From the trees discovered we collected as full specimens 

 of the leaves and flower buds as could be obtained, together with green and dry 

 fruits, I also collected a number of fresh seeds, from which I trust plants may be 

 raised. 



