240 PROFESSOR SMITH'S JOURNAL. 



journal, speaking of the latter, observes, that their whole 

 figure, their hanging breasts, and other personal accomplish- 

 ments, made our young gentlemen of the party dream of the 

 Venuses we should have to admire in the kingdom of Congo. 

 No boat was yet to be seen. We had hired a negro cor- 

 poral for our guide, and that we might not loose more time 

 we determined to set out on our inland journey, though 

 v.ithout instruments, and though our boxes, which were not 

 calculated for a long tour, were already filled with plants. 

 Our plan was, if possible, to proceed this evening to the 

 foot of Pico xVntonio (the highest mountain in the island), 

 and having reposed ourselves in some hut during the night, 

 to ascend the summit the following morning ; then to cross 

 the mountain in a S. W. direction, down the valley Pubhco 

 Grande and Cividad ; and lastly, to return by the road 

 leading to El Matheo. That part of the island, through 

 which we had to pass, is unfortunately the most level. 

 From the cliffs near the sea, rising perpendicularly some 

 scores of feet, large tracts of land, scorched by the sun, ex- 

 tend themselves upwards. They are intersected by level 

 barrancoes, of which the valley la Trinidad is the largest, 

 running from two and three leagues from the harbour up 

 to the mountains in a W. N.W. direction. Through this 

 valley, as being the most fertile, we took our way. Its 

 lower end is horizontal, and at first sandy and naked. 

 Some solitary trees of a Mimosa were the first pleasing ob- 

 jects that occurred ; and soon afterwards we observed, for 

 the first time, a huge Adansonia, divided into three large 

 trunks, thick in proportion to their height, with bended 



