Earthquake.—Phanomenon in the Tides.— Botany. 221 
Island—another Robert’s. Some of the harbours are very good ; 
vessels in them being land-locked. Of the three first months of 
the present vear, the mildest experienced there was March; but 
the seals had mostly retired to the water. A solitary spot or two 
of something like grass were the only marks of vegetation. No 
field ice was seen, but innumerable islands were floating about. 
The flesh of the young seals was often eaten, and was not dis- 
agreeable. The remains of the seals were generally left on the 
beach, after the skins were taken off; but, if convenient, pro- 
bably much oil might be made.” — American Sentinel. 
EARTHQUAKE. 
Batavia Journals of the 28th of April give an account of a ter- 
rible earthquake which took place, on the 29th of December last, 
on the south coast of Celebes. It didimmense damage, especially at 
Boeleekomba, where the sea rose several times aprodigious heiglit, 
ayd then falling with incredible rapidity, alternately deluged and 
left the shore, destroying all the plantations from Bontain to Boe- 
loekomba. Many hundred persons have lost their lives. The fort 
of Boeleekomba was much damaged, that of Bontain less so. 
On the 4th of January, this year, there was another shock of 
an earthquake ; but we not learn that it did any damage. 
PHENOMENON IN THE TIDES. 
Friday, the 7th Sept., a singular phenomenon was observed 
at Arundel, by the ebbing and flowing of the river Arun, five 
different times in the course of two hours. When the great 
earthquake at Lisbon took place on the Ist of November 1755, 
a similar circumstance accurred, and with the same undulation 
of the waters, although no tremulous motion was felt. 
BOTANY. 
A curious and beautiful plant, Cactus hexagonus, or six-an- 
gled Torch Thistle, was in full bloom last month, in the green- 
house at Chapel-house near Bury St. Edmund’s : — its corolla 
began to expand at six o’clock in the evening, and gradually 
closed at the same hour of the following morning. It is a native 
of Surinam, and is seldom known to flower in this country ; but 
experience has shown it may be greatly accelerated by a free ex- 
posure to the sun and air during hot and dry weather. The pre- 
sent plant is seven feet high, and supposed to be of about thirty 
years’ growth. 
In the nursery of Mr. Boughton, at Lower Wick, near Wor- 
cester, is a beautiful and rare specimen of the Yucca gloriosa, 
or Superb Adam’s Needle, in full flower, the stem of which is 
nearly 
