MONKEY EIVER AND POINT YCACOS. 33 



up, are large swamps of white mangrove (Laguncularia race- 

 mosa). ' The district generally has excellent land for bananas 

 and coco-nuts, but with the exception of those portions bordering 

 the upper reaches of the river, the lands are not continuous, but 

 are distributed in isolated patches or cays, with intervening 

 swamps. Again, higher up the river, the best lands suitable for 

 cultivation are often cut off in the dry season by the shallowness 

 of the river. To obviate this, it is suggested by some, to connect 

 the lands with the coast by a good road; if this were done 

 there is no doubt the Monkey River district would become a very 

 prosperous one. As it is, large quantities of produce are being 

 raised, and the Walize Fruit Company, when in full working, 

 will doubtless establish an important depot here. 



Below the mouth of Monkey River is Point Ycacos, on which 

 a small coco-nut plantation has been established by the Hon. 

 Alexander Williamson. There were about 2,500 young plants 

 put out within the last three or four years, and although growing 

 in rather a poor sandy .soil they were in good health. 



A plantation just being established on a ridge running 

 parallel to the sea was in a very promising situation, being 

 well supplied with vegetable humus and a deep soil. In this 

 young plantation, rice, plantain, and cassava grew well within a 

 few feet of the sea ; and no doubt the return from provisions, if 

 systematically worked, would considerably lessen, if not indeed 

 entirely cover, the cost of establishing a coco-nut plantation on 

 this coast. 



In the adjoining forest, various species of orchids were 

 gathered, chiefly of Epidendrum and Oncidium. 



A Zamia, probably Z.prasina, called locally a "bulrush," was 

 also plentiful on ridges and banks near lagoons. The cabbage 

 palm (Oreodoxa oleracea) appears to be utilised in this district 

 for boarding houses, the thatch being obtained from " bay leaf" 



