1895.] ESSAYS. 47 



Those who have enjoyed tlie delightful experience of a visit to the 

 tropics appreciate the educational value of time spent there. " The 

 tropics are nature," says James Rodway, who has interpreted the 

 individuality of trees, and found them to be as sensitive as human 

 beings and resembling them in many ways. Each tree struggles for 

 existence among the crowd, selfishly pushing aside others in reaching 

 upwards towards the sunlight, and crowding its roots amid myriads of 

 tangles in search of food and water. Here in the tropics we see the 

 survival of the fittest, the stronger trees crowding out the weaker. 

 We have not been accustomed to look upon trees as individuals, but 

 to the observer in the tropics the resemblance is perfect, and we can 

 understand our Park Commissioner's affection for trees. They are 

 to him as companions ; they cannot talk, but there are human beings 

 who are mute. The investigator can find sermons in stones. If we 

 study them, we will find friends in trees. The South American for- 

 ests contain hundreds of species, unlike our forests, which contain a 

 small variety. The pineapple, that most refreshing of tropical fruits, 

 grows wild in the northern parts of South America. From the fibres 

 of the leaves cloth is manufactured. The cassava bread is extensively 

 used in hot countries. The poisonous substance of the root is ex- 

 tracted by heating, and thin flat cakes are made, and are much 

 esteemed by the natives. We purchased some of the bread and also 

 of the root. 



It is not a very delightful experience to sail through the Straits of 

 Gibraltar in the night-time, with the wind blowing a gale and raining 

 hard. All hands were on deck and on the alert, as we worked our 

 way through the portals- of the Mediterranean. We entered the 

 straits at' midnight. At three o'clock, the rock loomed up before us 

 with its light on Europa Point. As day dawned we found ourselves 

 in the blue Mediterranean, where we gazed upon the snow-covered 

 mountains of Spain, which we were rapidly leaving behind. The next 

 day we passed Algiers Bay and Cape de Gata, on the north coast of 

 Africa. That night we experienced severe thunder and lightning with 

 hail, and passed the Baleares Islands, which are five in number, 

 Majorca being the largest. The northern part consists of lofty moun- 

 tains. 



We passed Sardinia, Maritimo, Sicily, and entered Malta channel, 

 where we looked through the glass at the celebrated fortress of Malta. 

 La Valetta, the capital, has been called the most beautiful small city 

 in the world. When opposite Greece, our topgallant-mast was car- 

 ried away, a frequent occurrence in the Mediterranean. The crew 

 were six hours clearing away the wreckage. 



