121 
CCXLIV.—BOTANY OF MILANJI IN NYASSA-LAND, 
of somewhat precipitous mountains occupying a commanding dag to 
under British rers to the North of the Zambesi. A report L3 Mr. 
Whyte’s journey is given in the ‘ ‘ Papers relative to the Suppression of 
Slave-raiding in Nyassa-land, Africa," No. 5 (1892), hekari to 
a aO, June 1892. The following extracts contain references to 
the plants of the districts visited. Mr. Whyte’s botanical collections 
have not E been critically examined in this country. 
Mr. Wuyte to Commissioner JOHNSTON. 
The Residency, fon rwr Central Aine 
November 1 
HAVING — from exploring aid oes specimen s of the 
flora and fauna of the mountain and district. of apie I have now vithe 
honour to hand you m Re rt on the sam 
Milanji is an isolated range of, for the most part, precipi itous moun- 
tains, the main mass forming a huge natural fortress of weather-worn 
precipices, or very steep rocky ascents, sparsely clothed with vegetation. 
Many of its gullies and ravines.are well wooded, and in some of them 
fine examples of grand African virgin forest are met with, The route 
by which I ascended the mountain from the plain, on the 20th October, 
led up from its south-east face, and at first zig-zagged over steep, grassy 
hills, down precipitous gorges, and across rocky streams, with beds of 
large water-worn granite boulders, which, when flooded, become 
i e mountain torrents. Further on the ascent became more 
l 
-over precipices, of 
roots, and scrub, which gave but cum pprt and P" foot-hold. 
was 
entered, still steep and difficult, but ui better foot-hold on the pro- 
jecting rocks and tree-roots; and most welcome was the kindly shade 
after hours of toil in a burning sun, rendered doubly fierce by the 
oec meer m. the oo hot rocks. 
esting change in the vegetation y was iat once 
Begins i; pte of ie lower agen being; mostly r species 
new to me, and in many instances. approac of temperate 
climes, such as brambles and well known old forms a papilionaceous 
and composite plants. Ferns, too, became more numerous, and now and 
again we scrambled t through perfect fairy dells of mosses, fern-fronds, 
inellas, and . 8, 7 
life-giving g spray on the little verdant glades, while overhead hoary 
lichens and bright festoons of elegant, long-tasselled lycopods hung 
rom the moss-covered ancient-looking trees. Up and up we climbed 
the apparently endless ladder of roots and rocks. Then we passed 

