THE TROPICAL ZONE. 241 



broad, thick-leaved species of Clusia (C.fragrans y Gardn.), 

 which loads the air with a delightful fragrance." 



Leaving this beautiful scene behind us as we climb 

 higher, we reach a part of the mountain which is of a per- 

 fectly different character, where we are no longer surrounded 

 by trees, and see nothing around us but " bare portions of 

 rock, with occasional masses of low shrubs and herbaceous 

 plants." But mounting higher still, we arrive at a flat 

 and comparatively wooded spot, where we feel peculiarly 

 sensible of the advantages which attend our method of tra- 

 velling; as, when Dr. Gardner made this excursion in a 

 more literal manner, he partly made the ascent of this last 

 steep part of the mountain, up the gently sloping face of a 

 granite rock, upon his hands and knees ; but even here a 

 hand was found disengaged when a Sundew (Drosera) was 

 met with, or an Eriocaulon growing in moist ground, or 

 the curious Burmannia bicolor. 



As we now meet with a less distracting variety, we shall 

 be better able to examine individual plants ; the two last 

 of those above named deserve particular attention. The 

 Burmannia bicolor, though possessing regular blossoms, is 

 said by learned botanists to be related to the Orchis tribe, 

 on account of similar peculiarities in the seeds and seed- 



