Dec. 1850. FLAG-STAFF HILL. COFFEE. TEA. FEITER. 347 



We accompanied Mr. Sconce to a bungalow which he 

 has built at the telegraph station at the south head of 

 the harbour : its situation, on a hill 100 feet above the 

 sea, is exposed, and at this season the sea-breeze was 

 invigorating, and even cold, as it blew through the mat- 

 walls of the bungalow.* To the south, undulating 

 dunes stretch along the coast, covered with low bushes, 

 of which a red-flowered Melastoma is the most pre- 

 valent,! and is considered a species of Wiododendron by 

 by many of the residents ! The flats along the beach are 

 several miles broad, intersected with tidal creeks, and 

 covered with short grass, while below high -water mark all 

 is mud, coated with green Conferva. There are no leafy 

 seaweeds or mangroves, nor any seaside shrub but Dili- 

 varia Uicifolia. Animal life is extremely rare ; and a 

 Cardium-like shell and small crab are found sparingly. 



Coffee has been cultivated at Chittagong with great 

 success ; it is said to have been introduced by Sir W. 

 Jones, and Mr. Sconce has a small plantation, from which 

 his table is well supplied. Both Assam and Chinese teas 

 flourish, but Chinamen are wanted to cure the leaves. 

 Black pepper succeeds admirably, as do cinnamon, arrow- 

 root, and ginger. 



Early in January we accompanied Mr. Lautour on an 

 excursion to the north, following a valley, separated from 

 the coast by a range of wooded hills, 1,000 feet high. For 

 several marches the bottom of this valley was broad, flat, 

 and full of villages. At Sidhee, about twenty -five miles 



* The mean temperature of the two days (29th and 30th) we spent at this 

 bungalow was 6Q 0, 5, that of Calcutta being 67 0, 6 ; the air was damp, and the 

 barometer 0'144 lower at the flagstaff hill, but it fell and rose with the Calcutta 

 instrument. 



f Melastoma, jasmine, Calamus, JEgle Marmelos, Adelia, Memecylon, Ixora, Linos- 

 tonia, Congea, climbing Ccesaljpinia, and many other plants ; and along their bases 

 large trees of A moora, Gaurea, figs, Mesua, and Micromelon. 



