THE PHILIPriNE ISLANDS. 59 



whose Flora is extremely scanty. Two kinds of 

 grass, the halms of which reacli a height of about 

 eight feet, and which are scorched by the sun, ap- 

 j)ear to have been sown, and ripening for the harvest. 

 A very few dwarf-plants, for the most part sili- 

 quose, conceal themselves in their shade, and an 

 arborescent Bauhinia rises here and there among 

 them. 



These savannahs are set fire to, either to prepare 

 them for cultivation, or to procure grass of a 

 younger growth for the herds. The fire crackles 

 over them, and a small species of hawk and other 

 birds actively fly round the clouds of smoke that 

 rise before the advancing fire, in chase of the in- 

 sects which fly to escape from it. 



Circumstances confined our researches in the 

 system of organized nature, almost exclusively to 

 botany and entomology. We, however, find occa- 

 sion to say a few words on a marine insect, less 

 known to the learned than the mercantile world. 



Under the general name of Biche de mer, in 

 Malayan,. Trepang^ and in Spanish, Balate, certain 

 dried and smoked Holothuria^ of seven, and per- 

 haps more kinds, are brought to the market of 

 Canton, each having its particular value and name. 

 The same epicurism of the Chinese, which attaches 

 a high value to the birds* nests which are known even 

 in Europe, maintains also the value of the Trepang 

 by the great demand. The Malays look for it as 

 far as the coast of New Holland, in the gulf of 



