306 LORD HOWE's ISLAND. 
It is somewhat semicircular in form, about 43 miles in length, and 14 
miles at its widest part. On its southern extremity there are two 
mountains, over 2500 feet high; from the base of these to the northern 
end, where the ground again rises to an elevation of about 1200 feet, 
the intervening space is of a low, undulating character. The whole of 
the island is densely covered with a vegetation mainly consisting of 
trees, shrubs, and Palms, there being no barren spots upon it, except- 
ing the precipitous cliffs of the mountains and coast. From this de- 
scription of its size and breadth it will be apparent that the greater 
part of the island is subject to the effects of the sea breeze; yet, on 
the southern and most exposed side, Palms and exogenous trees grow 
down to high-water mark, and, except in being dwarfed, seem to be 
otherwise entirely unaffected by exposure. 
er passing the first belt of trees, a species of Fig (Ficus) abounds, 
and occupies much of the low-lying grounds. In general appearance 
it greatly resembles F. macrophylla of our eastern coast. It differs, 
however, from that plant by its smaller fruit and foliage, by the under- 
part of the leaves being more ferruginous, and by its great tendency 
to produce adventitious roots from its branches, which, after reaching 
the ground, become stem-like, so that in many instances it is difficult 
to determine the original trunk. In this respect it is the most remark- 
able species of Ficus I have met with in this part of the world. The 
largest tree of the kind which I noticed was, as nearly as possible, 
about 100 yards from the extremity of the branches on one side to 
that on the other, and had very numerous root-stems. It was a glori- 
ous sight, and one long to be remembered. In two or three instances 
these trees were found forming, as it were, a circle round an open space. 
This, it was plain, was caused by the original tree dying off entirely in 
the centre, and its branches in consequence becoming so many separate 
individuals. It is called Banyan by the settlers, after its great proto- 
type of Indian notoriety. No other species of Ficus was observed 
Among these Figs, and in every situation upon the island, whether 
high or low, to the extent of my investigations, two similar, but very 
distinct species of Areca Palm abound, one of which is called by the 
settlers the Cabbage, or Thatching Palm, from the fact of its fronds 
being the only material used for thatching upon the island. This is 
managed by the base of the foot-stalk of the frond doubling just below 
the pinnze, at which point it is worked on a batten, secured in the roof 
ior * 
