48 THE CRUISE OF TEE ' CUBAQOA.' 



uplands, where there is more rain and a lower temperature ; 

 it grows less quickly, but is considered to be of a finer 

 quality. I also observed pine-apples, but the cultivation of 

 them in general appeared to me slovenly. We now got 

 into a path with a slight ascent, which shortly brought us 

 into the midst of extensive woods. Here we were surprised 

 by a rattling shower, which obliged us to take shelter under 

 a bushy tree nearly three feet in diameter, with dark green 

 foliage ; my guides brought me a large banana leaf, which 

 made me a capital umbrella. When the rain was over we 

 quitted our shelter, the atmosphere still continuing moist 

 and thick. I saw a tolerable number of trees of different 

 species, and a very great variety of ferns, among Avhich 

 were several tree-ferns, Avhich sometimes, I was told, attained 

 the height of forty feet, but I had not .the chance of seeing 

 any of such a growth. It was a fine forest ; it had not, 

 however, so tropical a character as I had expected. I saAV 

 arrow-root, tutui {Aleuntes triloba), and ginger, which 

 looked very pretty, with its cluster of white flowers tinged 

 with pink, resembling somewhat in shape a bunch of white 

 grapes. The farther we advanced the steeper the path 

 became, as well as stony and difiicuit. The boulders, formed 

 of a sort of broken lava, were so slippery that I was obliged 

 to make use of my hands to prevent my slipping back some 

 feet each time I planted my foot. The ground was strewed 

 with dead land-shells, while live ones were to be seen upon 

 the ferns and other plants. In two or three little brooks I 

 crossed I saw several varieties of live shells, some of them 

 of a remarkably handsome form. 



