266 APPENDIX. 



Mv Botanical List is much less complete than I had expected it would 

 be. I took great pains to make it so, but the one fatal event which 

 blighted all my other hopes, in a great measure frustrated even these 

 endeavours, added to which, the disastrous circumstances of my last 

 voyage bereft me of the aid I had expected to find in Europe. 



Immediately after the rains cease between the tropics, vegetation is 

 in its? full vigour, but a great portion of it is so fugaceous, that a fortnight 

 will deprive the botanist of many beautiful and delicate plants. Unfor- 

 tunately, we did not reach Bathurst till the end of November, two 

 months after the rains had terminated. Many faded and broken speci- 

 mens were brought to me, of which I took notes, hoping, at Mr. Bowdich's 

 second visit, to procure, not only the perfect plants, but those which we 

 had missed by our late arrival. I preserved a numerous collection as 

 vouchers for my veracity, and, disappointed in all other respects, was 

 returning with a splendid herbarium, carefully packed in a case which 

 seemed impenetrable. The vessel in which I returned was so overladen, 

 and consequently, so deep in the water, that, as we had a succession of 

 storms, from the moment we made the Azores till we reached Dover, 

 her deck was incessantly afloat ; the water penetrated, and most of my 

 property was destroyed. To examine the luggage in the hold was 

 impossible, and it would have availed nothing if I could have secured my 

 plants in my cabin, for I was there driven three times from my birth by 

 the torrents of water which set every thing swimming, and which left me 

 nothing but wet bedding to sleep on during the last fortnight. I was 

 fearful that much destruction had taken place, but, when I went to the 

 docks, to select the articles liable to duty, I can scarcely describe my 

 mortification, at seeing many of my valuable books, maps, and engrav- 

 ings, but above all, my dried plants, drop at my feet in atoms. I was 

 thus disabled from comparing my herbarium with the magnificent collec- 

 tions of England and France, and all I can now do with my new, or 

 imperfect genera, is to offer them as notes for any future traveller. 



With regard to those which I profess to have determined, I offer them 



