388 



occasion: '' I have returned from visiting the north coast of thi» 

 island (Zanzibar) with a view to sending to Kew one of the large 

 Cycads [Enceplialartos) I before told you of. Captain Earl, of 

 H.M.S. '' Linden/' took me in a steam lannoh. We saw the treos 

 standing out in the rocky shore, but had difficulty in effecting a 

 landing, although it was at the time calm. The raised coral rock 

 here stands 25 ft. above the sea, and is hollowed out to lean so 

 that only at a cliance spot was it possible to climb up, and tlien we 

 were forced to use ropes. Once on the top it was equally difficult 



to move along, for near the coast the coral had been corroded into 

 a number of spikes with sharp angles and cavities, into w"hich it 

 would have been most dangerous to slip. Farther inland these 

 hollows were partially filled with red earth, so that it was easier to 

 move about, but to transport a tree even of less size than those we 

 had come in quest of, was clearly impossible with the means at our 

 di&posal over such dangerous and impracticable ground. We 

 therefore selected one with a trunk 15 feet high clear of leaves, a 

 male in full flower and with a crow n of leaves that raised it 22 feet 



from the ground. This grew on tlie edge of the rock, so that we 

 would not have to carry it over the spikes. It was soon found 

 impossible, however, to take it off tlie roots, as these had filled 

 every crevice of the rock boles. We cut it, therefore, ofi the rock, 

 securing quite enough to enable it to grow without diificulty. 

 Most unfortunately when the work was almost done it fell and 

 snapped asunder on a rock, one-tliird from tlie top. The lower 



part we, however, took on board, and Ihave planted it on the chance 

 that it may shoot out, as I saw many old trunks had done. After 



this we secured with great labour a small plant that had not yet 



flowered. The stem of this is about 5 feet liigh. This also I have 



planted here to give it a better chance of standing the voyage. I 



took a photo o^ a female tree 5 feet high in fruit. I have also 



taken one of tlie male and female cones which. I sent. I also 



enclose a photo of the male and female cones of the Mombasa plaiit. 



The female cone in that is, however, unusually short- I hope the 



photos will be of some use as a guide. I am not sure that I shall 



have the full view of the Encephalartos in fruit printed in tinae to 



send now. It has a very peculiar habit .... to that of the 



other Cycads, and the many fruits set at an angle are peculiar. 



The Encephalartos of the place we went to is singularly limited to 



those rocks. The country a few hundred yards back is open grass, 



but there not a specimen is seen. These rocky places' contain many 



peculiar plants besides. I saw Dorstenia, an Impatwn^ and other 



plants, including the CaZum&a root that seemed to stand and enjoy 



the heat, the drougM and the hard limestone rock. When next I 



go there it must be with I>etter appliances and more time at my 



disposal. There must be the means of getting a mass of trunk a 



ton weight, over the sharp rocks without cutting the men.'' Yet 



no^ opportunity for repeating tlie expedition, to tliose limestone 



cliffs seems to have arisen, and the Encephalartos inhabiting them. 



remained undisturbed. Meanwhile Kirk had planted EncepJi- 



