118 



We now proceeded through a piece of woodland, not of a 

 very lofty description, composed of the Down-Tree, [Ochroma 

 Lagopus,) Aralia arhorea, the Cedar, {Cedrela odorata,) the 

 Mahoe, {Hibiscus elatus,) the Dwarf Fan-Palm, [Thrinax 

 parvijlora,) &c. In every little crevice of the rock, the Ges- 

 neria acaulis had taken up its abode; on its bare surface, the 

 Tillandsia serrata had established itself; while the Guzmannia 

 tricolor displayed its attractive spike on the branches of the 

 trees. The Pothos macrophylla is here very common. On 

 descending the hills above Spring Vale, the property of 

 Charles N. Pallmer, Esq., I was struck with the beauty of 

 our Jamaica Lily, [Pancratium carihcBum,) fixing its bulb in 

 the cavity of the Honeycomb-rocks. The Epidendrum fra- 

 grans and the E. cochleatum also did not fail to attract our 

 notice. On the fences, among other creepers, grew that 

 naturalized exotic Bean, Dolichos Lablab, {Lablab vulgaris.) 

 A species of Passion-flower is also to be found here, of which, 

 as it appeared to be new, I regret having been disappointed in 

 taking an accurate description. Here also the profusion with 

 which the Orange kind in this district produce their fruit, 

 called forth our admiration. 



On leaving Spring Vale, we caught our first glimpse of St. 

 Thomas in the Vale. It was nine o'clock in the morning, 

 yet the sun's rays had only begun to dissipate the thick sheet 

 of fog with which this part of the country is covered on each 

 returning morning. In the district through which we now 

 passed, that lofty and valuable timber-tree, the Broad-Leaf^ 

 {Terminalia latifolia,) is very common. 



Leaving Spring Vale pastures, we entered on a piece of 

 marshy land, employed by Byebrooke Estate for the purpose 

 of pasturage. It is almost entirely overgrown with the Guava, 

 one of the most difficult of our weeds to extirpate. As a 

 compensation for this, its fruit is relished by all kinds of 

 stock. The acid, however, which it contains, is said to be 

 injurious to the teeth of horses. In this part of our route, 

 there was little to excite interest. Occasionally the profuse 

 and showy flowers of the Convolvulus umbellatus and C. poly- 

 anthos would attract our regards. The Tetracera jamaicensis 



