328. BOTANICAL EXCURSION IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF COURTALLAM. 
at others, however, they open into small 
amphitheatres covered with deep and very 
fertile soil. On these favoured spots, are 
cultivated some of the most esteemed ve- 
getable products of the East, such as 
Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Coffee, &c.; the two 
last are of excellent quality and in consider- 
able quantity. The woods on either side 
which shelter these gardens are generally 
composed of fine large trees, mixed with 
numerous smaller ones, bound together by 
a profusion of twining shrubs. Under the 
shade grow a great variety of Scitaminec, 
among which, Cardamoms, Arrow-root, 
Ginger, and Turmeric may be mentioned, 
several species of Pepper, and three or 
four of Peperomia ; somecurious Urticeous 
plants, a species of Dorstenia, four or five 
Begonias, that very curious plant Bragan- 
tia (or T; rimereza), many Orchidee, Aspho- 
del, dee, and F i > fusi 
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Among the trees I found several Annona- 
biacee, one of the most interesting of which 
T PA | 311 F QEON, 1 3). 2 : 
cum 
ing, as it does, to the tops of the highest 
trees. Two species of Myristica I was en- 
abled to distinguish by the mace only, the 
trees being so large that I could not obtain 
specimens. Menispermacee abound. Here 
I saw for the first time, Cocculus macrocar- 
Dus, a powerful twiner. The stems andlarger 
E x ih? = perks 3 } 
[/ 
of fruit, hanging in large clusters, vying with 
grapes in size, and most enticing to look at, 
being covered with a fine white bloom. I 
also found what appears to me a new 
species of Clypea, the male plant only ; the 
owers are collected into flat dense heads, 
somewhat resembling a Dorstenia, hence 
the temporary name I have given it, until 
the discovery of the female flowers shall 
determine whether it is new or not. 
lhave no room to say more concerning 
the inexhaustible treasuresof this matchless 
glen, for if I do, I fear there will be little 
space left for an account of the excursion 
letter, and were I to fill three other sheets 
m expatiating on its Flora, I should still 
fall short in adequately pourtraying its - 
merits as a botanical garden, for such I - 
consider its most appropriate designation. 
The hill occupying the south-east point 
of the recess of Courtallam is the loftiest 
of this part of the range, the highest peak 
of which, my companions humorously de- 
signated, in honour of the collections of the 
day, Botany Peak. Itis distant about three 
miles from the houses of the Europeans, 
About six, A.M. we left home, and rode to 
the foot of it. At seven we commenced 
the ascent, carrying a barometer, provisions . 
for the day, two large botanical boxes, and 
sundry quires of paper. The Europeans, 
three in number, were armed with double- 
barrelled fowling pieces loaded with ball, 
in case of accidents, as it was rumoured 
that there was an elephant in the way. 
This we did not believe, but were afterwards 
convinced of the truth of the report, by 
seeing his foot-marks, though not the 
animal himself. About nine we arrived on 
the bank of a small stream, half way up; 
and this being the only one we had to cross 
in the ascent, we stopped and breakfasted. 
There I found several plants new to me, 
and saw growing for the first time the Rhus 
decipiens. It is a tall handsome tree: one 
I measured was nearly 40 feet long ; it had 
been blown down, but not so as to stop its 
growth, and was not at this time in flower. 
The Plantain was also growing wild, 
along with a species of Maranta. I like- 
wise found a Labiate plant, apparently 
of the genus Lamium. A few other plants 
were picked up at this place, and added to 
a considerable number gathered in the 
previous ascent. Having refreshed and 
rested ourselves, we pushed on with all 
possible speed, to leave ourselves more 
time to accomplish the steeper and more 
difficult part of the ascent which was still 
before us. For nearly a quarter of a mile 
from the stream, we passed over a piece 
of cleared land, where some of the com- 
> 
moner cerealia are cultivated, and which | 
at this time was covered with Paspalum - 
to “ Botany Peak," the main object of my frumentaceum; among which I found 1 
two species of Torenia, T. Asiatica, and | 3: s 
another very handsome, large-flowered e y 
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