Narrative of Bahama Expedition. ioi 



in general appearance. Unfortunately we did not succeed in 

 satisfactoril}- classifying this either. On a small island in the 

 harbor was an oleander conspicuous with its load of pink 

 blossoms, and we also found there a single cotton plant, show- 

 ing every phase of frutition from the curiously shaped lemon- 

 colored flowers to the fluffy cotton seeds. Though both were 

 in this instance probably j^lanted by man, the\' often grow 

 wild in this climate. The hibiscus also flourishes here. At 

 Havana we saw great bush-like affairs with gorgeous rose- 

 red blooms as large as a tea-cup. 



"There are common to this region also, trees remarkable 

 for their gorgeous blossoms and the beauty of their foliage. 

 Possibly the most noticeable is Ponciana rcgia, the common 

 park tree at Havana. It grows about thirtv feet high, having 

 delicate fern-like foliage, and is crowned with great masses of 

 flaming scarlet blossoms that make the tree a blaze of color. 

 Another tree, called by the natives the 'Geiger tree,' has 

 clusters of wheel-shaped flowers, vivid orange in color. 



" Along the banks at Bahia Honda we also saw the broad, 

 waving, banner-like leaves of the banana, unfolding like a 

 mammoth Indian maize, the leaves sheathing the stem till a 

 stout trunk is formed; and hanging dow^n almost within our 

 reach was a bud-shaped bunch of blood-red leaf-life bracts, a 

 velvet covering for the tiny flowers within, destined ultimately 

 to develop into the vellow bananas of our markets. The plan- 

 tain is similar in growth. We saw here also the bright green 

 ribbon-like leaves of the sugar-cane, and the ' pines' with 

 tluir whorl of slender, spiny leaves growing to a height of 

 three to four feet, and a single pineapple at least nestled 

 snugly in their midst. 



'•A great variety of fruits are common in the island. Man- 

 gos were brought us. They grow on a tree from lhirt\- to 

 forty feet high, with dense, glossy, spreading foliage. The 

 fruit is about the size of an apple, a little oblong in shape, and 

 mottled green and brown and yellow or reddish without, and 

 a fine golden yellow within, not unlike a peach. There is 

 often a strong flavor of turpentine, and a relish for them must 



