66 CLIMATE AND VEGETATION OF [March, 



inaudible by the still louder roar of tlie aerial current^ while the 

 frequent and momentary glare of the vivid lightning only adds 

 strength to the horrid catastrophe by unveiling the work of de- 

 struction and havoc going on around. This is no overdrawn 

 picture ; it is plain matter-of-fact^ well attested by many whose 

 veracity is unimpeachable. 



Owing to the absence of wood and mountains, the climate of 

 Barbados is drier, and its mean temperature about a degree higher, 

 than St. Lucia. 



The vegetation of St. Lucia is truly rich, whether we take into 

 account the number of different individual plants or the amount 

 of those species which are everywhere common. One dense 

 forest, from the margin of the ocean to the summits of its cloud- 

 capped alps, entirely covers the island. 



The Mangrove, whose roots are washed by the waters of the 

 great deep, finds a favourable locality on the shores of the sea, 

 whilst along the sand the Cocoa Palm {Cocos nucifera) grows in 

 abundance. This, to the natives, is one of the most valuable pro- 

 ductions of the vegetable kingdom. 



Among the trees producing edible fruits may be mentioned the 

 different species of Orange {Auranfia) : — Sweet Orange [Citrus 

 Aurantium), the Seville or Bitter Orange (C vulgaris), the Shad- 

 dock (C. Decumana), a large East Indian species; the Lime (C 

 Limonium) and C. medica are well known for their acidity, which 

 is too intense to permit of being eaten. 



The Mango [Mangifera indica, Nat. Ord. Terehinthaceas) has 

 a large kidney-shaped fruit, of an agreeable flavour. Another of 

 the same family is the Anacardium occidentale, a middle-sized 

 tree, bearing a pyriform edible fruit, to which is appended a nut, 

 in shape and size equal to an ordinary bean. It contains an 

 acrid, caustic oil, which whosoever tastes will never desire to taste 

 it again : it literally burns the lips and tongue as with a hot 

 iron. 



The Mamey-tree [Mammea americana, Nat. Ord. Guttifera), 

 a large tree, bearing a fruit much bigger than an apple. 



The Alligator Pear-tree (Persea gratissima, Nat. Ord. Lau- 

 racem). The fruit is much esteemed, and the kernel contains a 

 juice used for marking linen, which is almost as indelible as the 

 solution of nitrate of silver. 



The Soapberry {Sapindus saponarius, Nat. Ord. Sapindacea) 



