608 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
European species. A few smaller aquatic plants (n. 82-85), 
appeared more interesting, with Cyperoidee (n. 47), some 
of which grew very large. There were also several gramineous 
plants which delight in water; a Fern (n. 5), and several 
Melastomas, among them a very fine purple-blossomed species 
(n. 28), clothed this extensive plain,’ whose boundary 
seemed formed of innumerable Fan-Palms. On the shrubby 
trees, which seemed to bear up with difficulty against the 
water, a number of Tillandsias, Bromelias and Orchidee, ve- 
getated luxuriantly. Among the latter, I noticed a‘ Vanilla 
(n. 33), and several Epidendree (n. 36 & 271." with: a. num- 
ber of others I had not seen before, and which were not in 
flower. In the shade, a blue-blossomed Lisianthus (n. 29), 
was highly pleasing to the eye. A great many! Aroidee 
were growing, both on the trees and inthe water ; of the lat- 
ter kinds, I collected n. 34, which alone was in flower. On 
the banks of the creek, where the ground rose a little, I gath- 
ered a few Ferns (n. 27, 5); one of these (n. 111), ap- 
pearing somewhat different from Schizea elegans. I should 
be quite ashamed of having procured so very few specimens 
as you will find marked “ Wana Creek,” if the circumstances 
under which I visited this spot had been more favourable to 
botanizing. I would beg you to take into consideration, that 
the Bush Negroes were hired to convey me, with all practi- 
cable speed, to the place of my destination, and as they had 
only provided themselves with the needful subsistence for a 
limited period, they would never suffer me to waste time (as 
they deemed it), in looking out for plants. 
Six days did our passage last through this “dismal 
swamp," which, in the dry season, affords no water, and is 
then burnt off by Maroon slaves, who inhabit those isolated 
elevations now lying like islands above the watery waste. 
Doubtless, this tract must contain many peculiar produc- 
tions, which ought to be sought for at the commencement 
of the wet season, when the whole plainjis clad with fresh 
verdure, which again, when the rains increase, gives place 
to a luxuriant growth of gramineous plants. Travellers, 
