332 PLANTS SHIPPED FOR ENGLAND. [Cuar. XVIII. 
CHAP. XVIII. 
PLANTS SHIPPED FOR ENGLAND.— SAIL FOR MANILA.—NATURAL 
PRODUCTIONS AND EXPORTS.—PASSPORT ANNOYANCES. —THE 
PHILIPPINES. — VALUABLE PLANTS PROCURED.— THE “ QUEEN 
OF ORCHIDS.” ——NATURAL HABITS OF AIR-PLANTS. —LAWLESS 
THE PADRE. — VOLCANOES IN THE PHILIPPINES. — GENERAL 
APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.— LEECHES NOT VERY AGREE- 
ABLE COMPANIONS. — RETURN TO MANILA AND SHIP PLANTS 
FOR ENGLAND, — SAIL FOR THE NORTH OF CHINA.—‘“ A MAN 
OVERBOARD ”—HIS RECOVERY BY A GALLANT BOAT’S CREW. — 
ARRIVE IN THE NORTH. 
Tue collections of plants and seeds which I had 
made during the summer and autumn of 1844 ar- 
rived in safety at Hong-kong, and I lost no time in 
shipping them for England. All the living objects 
were planted as usual in‘ Ward’s cases,” well guarded 
with iron bars and placed upon the poops of the 
largest vessels I could find then at anchor in the 
bay. I always took care to divide my collections 
into three or four parts for the purpose of sending 
them by different ships, so that if any thing hap- 
pened to one portion, the others had a chance of 
reaching England in safety. The last shipment at 
this time was made on the 31st of December. As 
it was then winter in the northern provinces, and 
