102 



colobis Uvifcra), a species of spider lily {Hyiiicuocallis), and one 

 of prickly pear {OpiDitid), prevailed. 



Where the sea penetrated into the low flat lands, mangrove 

 swamps were found. They are always weird, their great strag- 

 gling roots, like vast spiders, clamber in all directions ; and this 

 weirdness was but intensified by the almost absolute quiet on a 

 still day, the silence only broken by the rustling of the crabs, 

 as they grotesquely sidled along these roots, looking at one with 

 their unwinking bead-like eyes, as if resenting this untoward in- 

 vasion of their domain. 



Several species of the genus Fiats are found in these low lands, 

 and the star-apple {ClirysopJiylluvi Cauiito) was of common occur- 

 rence, with its beautiful leaves upturned by the breeze, exposing 

 the silky brown felt of the lower surface. It is a pity this tree 

 is not hardy in our climate, for it would be a great addition to 

 our arborescent decorations. Its fruit is edible and wholesome. 



Banana fields were everywhere on the plantation, the bananas 

 serving as temporary shade for the rubber trees [Castilloa clasticd) 

 and the chocolate tree {Thcobroina Cacao). These are planted in 

 rows, the chocolate trees predominating, the rubber tree, the 

 much taller grower of the two, eventually forming permanent 

 shade for its smaller neighbor. The bananas are planted in rows 

 between. Their fruit is being largely used at present in the 

 manufacture of desiccated bananas, which are being sent in con- 

 siderable quantities to Europe. 



Sugar cane is also grown and its juice manufactured into rum 

 and tafia, a poor quality of rum. The intoxicating effects of 

 either are vigorous in the extreme, and when it is understood 

 that tafia can be had for a few cents a gallon, the ease with which 

 a good sized debauch may be had can be appreciated. Mangos, 

 avocado pears and other tropical fruits grow plentifully on the 

 plantation, and rice is cultivated to some extent. 



This region about the plantation was pretty thoroughly col- 

 lected, and, as was to be expected, yielded but few things which 

 were not of general distribution. lUit as one leaves this low 

 country and ascends to the mountains in the interior, great 

 changes are noted in the vegetation. All the cliaracteristic plants 



