CAPTAIX TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 25 



" The nature of the vegetation is here, as well as every 

 where else, the truest criterion of the climate. Few of the 

 iindoubtedl V indigenous plants can be called tropical ; on the 

 contrary, the flora of the island is poor in sonxe families which 

 occupy a large portion of tropical vegetation in general ; 

 such, for instance, as the Coinposita, while it is much richer 

 in others chiefly found in temperate climates, as the Lahiatce. 

 Few of the plants of the hotter regions of Africa are found 

 here; but a much greater number of species similar, or 

 allied to, those of the temperate extremities of this continent, 

 and of the Canary islands in particular. The number of 

 these encrease in ascending from the low grounds to the hills 

 of second magnitude, where they are succeeded partly by 

 European and partly by other Canarian plants to the height 

 of 3000 feet, which was the greatest elevation I reached." 



" St. Jago, though enjoying the genial influence of a tro- 

 pical sun, seems to be poor in indigenous plants, as is 

 indeed usually the case with islands at any considerable dis- 

 tance from a continent. But thouoh nature is not here 

 spontaneously productive, she has adopted every plant, 

 which has been brought to the island either by accident or 

 design. Thus the most prevalent species are exotic, and 

 chiefly introduced from the other Portuguese colonies, par- 

 ticularly from the Brazils and the Malabar coast. The 



E 



