VEGETATION OF GORDONTOWN. 19 



volvulacecB were the most prominent forms ; but to a 

 new-comer the most lively interest attaches to groups 

 never before seen in a wild state, such as Passiflora — 

 of which two species were found in flower — a- first 

 solitary representative of the great tropical American 

 family of MelastomacecB, or the gorgeous Amaryllid, 

 Hippeastruni equestre, hiding in shady places by the 

 stream. 



Although Gordontown can scarcely be so much as 

 a thousand feet above the sea-level, the climate is very 

 sensibly cooler than that of Kingston. When we 

 left the town the thermometer stood at 83° in the 

 shade, while here at midday the sea-breeze felt posi- 

 tively cold, and I was glad to have with me an extra 

 garment. A light luncheon of ham and eggs, with 

 guava sweetmeat for dessert, was soon despatched ; 

 and, as I wished to halt at several spots on the way, 

 we started about half-past two, laden with the spoils 

 of the excursion, and reached the steamer before five 

 o'clock. Great was my disgust to find that there was 

 no intention of starting until nine a.m. the next 

 morning, and this was changed to indignation when 

 it came to be known that we had been deprived of 

 the priceless pleasure of a trip to the mountains by 

 the deliberate misstatement of the company's super- 

 intendent, who had arranged to embark on the follow- 

 ing morning three hundred negroes going to work on 

 the Panama Ship Canal. 



A stranger can scarcely fail to observe a marked 

 difference between the negro population of Jamaica 

 and that of Barbadoes. In the larger island, while 

 no way deficient in physical qualities, they appear 



