1857.] THE NIGER EXPEDITION. 211 



we gathered the following : — Nothochlcena lanuginosa, Monanthes 

 polyphylla, Lavendula pinnata, Cynosurus sp., Asteriscus aquaticus, 

 Rumex maderensis, Ononis sp.^ Helichrysum obconicum, Plan- 

 tago Cynops, Amaranthus sp.^ Centranthus Calcitrapa, Ervum 

 pubescens, E. tetraspermum, Lithosjjermum arvense, Euphorbia, 

 three species, Medicago sp., Anagallis ccerulea, Papavei' Argemone, 

 P. Rhceas, Polycarpon tetraphyllum, Cichorium Intybus, Arenaria 

 rubra, Hordeum murinum, Sisymbrium Irio, Echium violaceum, 

 Malva parviflora, Cynodon dactylon, Amaranthus prostratus, Eu- 

 stachys petraa, Artemisia argentea, Scorpiurus subvillosus, Poly- 

 pogon monspeliensis, Plantago Lagopus, Dianthus prolifer. Datura 

 Metel, Nigella saliva, Trifolium sp., Galium sp., Cuscuta Epilinum, 

 Trifolium arvense, Medicago sp., Carduus sp., Lythrum Grcef- 

 ferii, Briza maxima. Cotyledon luteum ?, Tollium sp., Phalaris 

 canariensis, Chenopodium album, Briza virens, Mesembryanthe- 

 mum glaciate, M. crystallinum. 



Speeding onward through the Tropics, we touched next at 

 Goree, a French settlement, on a rock destitute of vegetation. 

 The African coast, generally speaking, after passing Cape de Verd 

 is flat, a shore of white sand, bordered by a dark line of vegeta- 

 tion, broken only by a magnificent Bombax or an occasional Oil- 

 Palm, which rear their heads sufficiently above the uniform line 

 to render them distinct some distance at sea. 



At Bathurst, on the Gambia, I had my first introduction to 

 African plants ; it is however a low, sandy spot, with lagoons and 

 Mangrove-thickets. At this season everything is burnt up ; I 

 therefore gathered few species in flower. It is not a favourable 

 residence for Europeans : evidence is not wanting on the tombs 

 of the old, overgrown cemetery for the "White," that life is 

 short here. 



Sierra Leone, viewed from the sea, is very beautiful ; neither is 

 the charm broken when landing, as is usually the case. Broad 

 streets, green with a short grass ; huts, houses, and stores dotted 

 among Cocoa-Palms, Bananas, and the various fruit-trees of the 

 Tropics give a pleasing aspect to African life. Mountains of 

 considerable elevation rise behind the town, and everywhere the 

 land falls sharply to the sea ; no water can lodge, no swamps occur. 

 Native vegetation is everywhere cleared sufficiently so as to ren- 

 der malarious influence from this source impossible : hence it is 

 difficult to believe that such a place can be unhealthy ; still this 



