62 



The branches of the large trees are covered with 

 orchids, lycopods, ferns, and loranths, while their 

 gigantic trunks are covered with hymenophyllunis, 

 and trichomanes, climbing pipers which give them the 

 appearance of columns clad with ivy. Such epiphytes 

 as pothos scandens, and other orontiads make the 

 tr Links of the trees look like pillars clad with creeping 

 caladiums ; branching freycinetias, &c, make the 

 trees to which they cling appear like tall columns of 

 grass, the tops of which are loose and wave backwards 

 and forwards in the breeze. Sometimes the trunks 

 may be seen all aglow with the bright flowers of a 

 creeping medinilla, adoruing as with wreaths the tree 

 to which it clings, and adding beauty and variety to 

 the agreeable though somewhat sombre shade of the 

 forest below, while its leaves are seen mingling with 

 those of the tree, far above. A break in the forest 

 displays festoons of white flowering clerodendrons 

 hanging from the top of a tall tree, while a 

 small gap will be covered over like a trellis with 

 the beautiful carruthersia and sweet smelling jas- 

 miniums. 



Looking down upon the forest, from an eminence, 

 it presents one mass of dark green foliage, the uni- 

 formity of which is broken by the delicate fronds of 

 i lie ire*.' fern, and the waving leaves of the palms, 

 and varied by the gay flowers of ipomceas and other 

 climbers which have overtopped the trees and are 

 spreading themselves out to the light and air. 



Tin' leeward side of the largest islands is an open 

 country, — undulating hills covered with grass and 

 ferns, with patches of forest in ravines and tops of 

 mountains, — places which have escaped both the 

 ravages of fire and the migratory cultivation of the 



