92 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



and the brother asks her whatever information he 

 wants." 



Faujas was charmed with Kew Gardens. He properly 

 gives the credit of their progress and utility to George III. 

 Some of Banks's recent importations were on view. 

 There were, especially, Hedysamm gyrans in flower ; 

 Dioncea muscipula; Magnolia grandiflora; beside other 

 plants which horticulturists of the period were more 

 or less in ecstasies about. It is, perhaps, not generally 

 known that the rockery in Kew Gardens was formed 

 of lava fragments, which had been brought from Iceland 

 as ballast. Doubtless, Faujas had this from Banks's 

 own mouth. " As the lavas are full of cavities, fissures, 

 and roughnesses, and are likewise spongy, and capable 

 of imbibing and long retaining water, it was resolved to 

 form thick borders of them, more or less elevated, round 

 the verges of a shady piece of ground, appropriated to 

 this moss-garden, which is unique of its kind." 



Mr. Pennant, in a letter to Banks, tells of the visit of 

 Faujas to the Isle of Staff a ; and of his fellow-philosopher 

 hesitating on the shores of Mull, appalled at the aspect 

 of Atlantic waves. The hesitation did not continue long. 

 At much risk he carried out his plan, determined to follow 

 in the footsteps of his predecessors, to whom he gives the 

 credit of being the first to describe the wonderful island. 



