On the Botany of Tahiti. Ixxix 
on without taking any notice until I was close enough to hear what they said, 
when I found that that they had immediately recognized me for a Piritani, or 
Englishman, and that I was quite welcome. My attendant, a long Yankee of 
full six feet, presently made his appearance, having lagged behind because 
he considered it the most prudent course to keep his precious person out of 
sight until he discovered how I was received. I soon recognized two or three 
women as old acquaintances, and through their good report was soon made 
quite at home in the house of the chief, which, not being a large one, was 
given up to me for a sleeping apartment. After making a good tea with the 
things I had brought with me, I had a long talk with the natives about the 
war, and elicited the information T have given you above. Next morning, at 
six o'clock, I started up the valley, by which I hoped to reach the summit of 
the high triangular peak of the Crown mountain, as it is called, which is nearly 
as high as any point in the island. 
The valley widened out considerably more after leaving the pa, but as the 
greater portion had been in cultivation or was covered with féi trees, I did 
not find much. I found, however, one rock covered with a plant I had 
previously only seen in the valley of Piré, and which I had then taken for one 
of the Commelinee ; it was here in flower, and turned out to be orchideous, 
but very insignificant. It had round, upright, fleshy stems and pointed oval 
somewhat serrated leaves, so that I think I might be excused the mistake. 
The first new plants I saw were on a small ridge which we crossed in order to 
avoid a long bend of the stream; I here found Alyxia stellata, Nelitris 
jambosella, and the Arthropodium for the first time, besides one or two 
Myrtacee not in fower. About a mile farther on I saw a very handsome 
downy-leaved Metrosideros growing out of a rock in the middle of the stream, 
and on a hill, which I ascended by mistake, I found two species of a curious 
tree with jointed branches, like a pepper, opposite oval serrated leaves and 
long lax racemes of small, blackish fruit. This is not an uncommon plant, but 
l have never seen it in flower. On the side of this hill I saw great numbers 
of my new Zrythrina in full flower, but only one within reach. They varied 
in colour from almost white to scarlet, and unfortunately the one I was able 
to get at was a pale flesh-coloured one; it was entirely without prickles, and 
had a very downy calyx, and fruit which appeared to be monospermous, but 
were too young to be certain of. The trees were entirely naked, but some 
twigs which I brought with me have grown in my plant cases, so that I shall 
be able to describe it from cultivated specimens. This was the very last plant 
I found of any interest. I continued on up the valley until about two o'clock 
without finding anything more. At the point where I turned I passed a tree 
quite covered with a sweet-scented orchideous epiphyte, which I had not seen 
before, except in one spot, and Lobelia arborea was very common ; but 
