260 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



trees, Pomegranate-trees, Pomecitron-trees, and Date-trees, 

 which bear fruit as the Pig-trees do, and are planted care- 

 fully and very artificially, with pleasant walks under and 

 between them ; and the said walks are overshadowed with 

 the leaves of the trees ; and in every void place is planted 

 Parsley, Sorrel, Basil, Fennel, Anise-seed, Mustard-seed, 

 Eadishes, and many very good herbs. The island is alto- 

 gether high mountains and steep valleys; . . . there are 

 much more fruits growing on the tops of the mountains than 

 below in the valleys, but it is very toilsome and dangerous 

 travelling up unto them and down again, by reason of the 

 height and steepness of the hills." It is worth remarking 

 as a negative peculiarity of the flora of St. Helena, that the 

 almost ubiquitous Leguminous tribe are entirely wanting 

 there. 



Ebony-trees are mentioned by Captain Cook as a natural 

 production of St. Helena ; but even in his day he tells us 

 " there had not been many of them within the memory of 

 any person then living " his account corresponds in almost 

 every respect with the one above quoted, and he adds that 

 " if properly cultivated, this island would produce the trees, 

 fruits, plants, and flowers of all the different parts of the 

 world :" the prophetic words which follow are too interest- 



