A Botanical Expedition to Nicaragua. 367 



particularly along the coast, is sandy, and the town is closely 

 hedged in by a great jungle-covered swamp. 



The so-called dr}- season begins in January and continues 

 until ?rlay, but rains are frequent during this period, as the 

 moisture-laden North-east Trades constantly sweep over the 

 region from the sea, and consequently there is no such mark- 

 ed change in the appearance of the vegetation as was noticed 

 on Ometepe. 



The fact that Greytown is the onlv port on the south- 

 eastern coast of Nicaragua, and that it is surrounded by an 

 almost unexplored region of unusual interest to the naturalist, 

 makes it an exceptionally important point, especially to the 

 botanist who would visit this portion of the continent. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Frank P. Davis, Chief En- 

 gineer of the Canal Construction Company, who, with his 

 associate officers, did so much to promote the success of the 

 expedition and whose many favors will be long remembered 

 by the recipients, the party was enabled to visit the Divide, 

 the ridge about 16 miles distant from Greytown through 

 which the deepest cut along the route of the proposed canal 

 is to be made. The party left Greytown on the morning of 

 March 27th, and travelled by hand-car along the railway, 

 which crosses the great swamp west of Greytown, to Camp 

 Seven, a distance of 12 miles, thence along the Deseado River 

 by canoe to Camp Menocal, a distance along the river of 

 about 4 miles, at which point the night was spent. On the 

 following day the journey was continued on foot along the 

 Deseado River by slipper}' paths through dense jungles to 

 the Divide, a distance (as the party was compelled to travel) 

 of about 5 miles. 



Of the region traversed the immediate vicinity of Greytown 

 is sandy; the portion from Greytown to a point near Camp 

 Seven is, as has already been stated, a great swamp which is 

 now cut by the railroad built by the Canal Construction Com- 

 pany for the transfer of supplies and material needed in the 

 construction of the canal. Beyond Camp Seven the country 



