GOLDEN CARP. 71 



merous varieties of the beautiful Chinese Ca- 

 mellias, several species of Bauhmias from India, 

 and the Black Chilly plant also from India. 

 The fruit of this latter plant, before attaining 

 maturity, is perfectly black, or rather, as a true 

 black does not exist in the vegetable kingdom, 

 a purplish black, but when ripe it becomes red ; 

 the stem, &c. of the plant has also a dark tinge. 

 Two species of Annona, indigenous to China, 

 and removed from its wild state in the vicinity 

 of Macao to this garden, particularly attracted 

 my notice ; one is probably an undescribed 

 species ; it is found growing upon the hills near 

 Macao. The tree was now both in fruit and 

 flower, the latter being, very fragrant ; the Chi- 

 nese name it the Hill Annona, or, in their lan- 

 guage, Shan, Ying, Chao ; the other species 

 is the A. uncata, called by the Chinese, Ying, 

 Chao. 



In a pond in the garden are some beautiful 

 specimens of the Golden Carp, {Ci/prinus aura- 

 tus, Linn.) which inhabits the lakes of southern 

 China ; the tail has a trifid form, the anal fins 

 become double, and they appear subject to 

 several variations, which, when depicted in 

 drawings, has caused many to regard them as 



Mou-tan, or Peony, of China, I was told was merely a very 

 large and splendid variety of the Hibiscus rosa chinensis. 



