CHAP. III. RESIDENCE OF THE LATE DR. TIIOM. 71 



by my host as a museum and library. Detached buildings 

 of this kind, but of various dimensions, are built in the 

 gardens of most of the houses of any pretension, and are 

 exceedingly pleasant and convenient, especially where the 

 family is large. 



When walking in the garden with Dr. Thorn on the follow- 

 ing morning, I was delighted to see the Acliimenes picta 

 and the velvet-leaved Gesneria growing luxuriantly, while 

 beautiful purple or claret-coloured ipomseas exhibited all 

 the elegance of form for which flowers of the convolvulus 

 kind are distinguished. I observed also the Stejphanotus 

 fioribunda and two varieties of bright scarlet quamoclit, 

 with the Tecoma jasminifiora, also in flower, and trailing 

 luxuriantly over the trellis-work. Around the posts of the 

 verandah the perfumed vanilla, and within the garden Poin- 

 settias, draceenas, and roses were mingled with the modest- 

 looking Thumbergia, which is quite a weed here, the ground 

 being in some parts literall}^ covered ^^dth its different va- 

 rieties. 



The residence of ni}^ friends was considered cool and 

 healthy, and the mountain scenery on one side, and the fertile 

 valley on the other, covered with numerous palms and 

 tropical shrubs, rendered it exceedingly beautiful. Nothing 

 could exceed in luxuriant growth the different species of the 

 aloe tribe, especially the common American aloe which grew 

 along the banks, by the side of the road, or on the adjacent 

 plain. Many of the old flower-stalks, upwards of twenty 

 feet high, were still standing, while younger stems, in every 

 stage of growth, from the scarcely apparent stalk to those 

 bearing freshly opened flowers, presented themselves in dif- 

 ferent directions. 



In the pleasant hours which on different occasions it was 

 my privilege to spend with Dr. Thom and his family, I found 

 him always an agreeable and intelligent companion, not 



F 4 



