130 BLUEFIELDS. 



larly over them to a surprising length, and hang 

 about in loose festoons, mingling with the contorted 

 stalks and broad noble leaves of Arums, the Five- 

 finger [A. auritum), and other species. Especially 

 characteristic of these walls are the plants called 

 Nightshade, species of Echites, with handsome yellow 

 or white flowers, somewhat resembling, at first sight, 

 those of a Convolvulus. These are elegant slender 

 climbers, which blossom profusely at most seasons 

 of the year, and, being very common on fences, 

 along with the noble Hogmeat {Ipomaa violacea), 

 which exactly represents a Major Convolvulus of 

 three or four times the usual dimensions, materially 

 contribute to the gaiety of the fields in this island. 

 The seed vessels of the Echites have a curious appear- 

 ance; they are long, slender, and slightly spindle- 

 shaped, always disposed in pairs at the end of a stalk, 

 from which they diverge either at a very wide angle, 

 or in opposite directions at right angles to the foot- 

 stalk, like the head of the letter T. These plants 

 have been named Nightshade because of their poi- 

 sonous character ; they are not botanically allied to 

 the true Nightshades : they belong, however, to an 

 equally virulent order, Apocynece. An instance of 

 the deadly qualities of these beautiful plants was 

 named to me. Two men, not long ago, were found 

 lying dead in the road : — the only clue to the cause 

 of their decease was that a bottle of rum was found 

 with them, from which they had been drinking, and 

 which they had stopped with a plug made of the 

 leaves of the Echites, growing in its usual abundance 

 in the spot, instead of a cork. The alcohol had 



