1 20 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. vi. 



see orchids, and other rare exotics stewed up in a glass 

 shed again, after seeing them thus luxuriant in the 

 open air. 



The flowering trees, many of which have been intro- 

 duced into the gardens, are very lovely a week or two 

 after the rains. Poinciana regia, two or three species of 

 cassia, and Lagerstroemia regina, and L. indica, with white 

 lilac or rosy flowers, are common. Different kinds of 

 jasmines, ixoras, and hibiscus flower freely nearly all the 

 year, as also does Thuribergia laurifolia, which drapes trees, 

 and fences, the fire-blossomed pomegranate, the fragrant 

 oleander ; there are also pools filled with the sunshade- 

 like leaves and rosy flowers of the Sacred Lotus, the 

 beauty of which rivals even the celebrated Lotus pools 

 of Japan. One or two honey-suckles and Jasminum 

 grandifiorum form tangled masses in the hedges, the 

 pearly flowers of Pancratium zeylanicmn spring up from 

 the grass, sheltered here and there hy caladium leaves, 

 and a scarlet hippeastrum forms glowing masses in old 

 gardens, and on waste places where houses have once 

 been situated. 



Where many indigenous plants have died out, this 

 hippeastrum has become naturalised : the light sandy 

 soil and hot sun seem to suit its requirements ; and it 

 increases so freely, that a barrow-load of bulbs might be 

 dug from a square yard of earth. Another introduced 

 plant, perfectly naturalised here, as also in Penang and 

 Singapore, is the dwarf and acrid Isotoma longifiora, 

 which bears snowy-white long-tubed flowers. The purple- 

 flowered "Mudar " (Calotropis gigantea), and the glorious 

 mauve wreaths of Bougainvillea spectabilis, are in places 

 very beautiful. The climate is hot, especially during the 

 dry season ; but about five o'clock p.m., when the land 

 breeze sets in, it is cool and agreeable. 



