AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



315 



medium-sized stocks, a large-leaved geti. Mijrtac. was growing in great 

 profusion ; and a Mijristica, here and there intermingled, was some- 

 tiuies forty feet high with the trunk two feet in diameter. The most 

 striking object was a rambling tree ; a Ficus, having the trunk nine 

 inches in diameter, branching, and the branches geniculating, proceed- 

 ing a short distance upwards, then to the right, to the left, down- 

 wards, backwards, in short, assuming so many unexpected directions, 

 as in the tangled forest to be traced with difficulty. 



Continuing on, we entered a small savanna, or natural opening : 

 closely resembling the one met with on Tutuila, devoid of trees and 

 shrubs, and occupied by a dense growth of an herbaceous fern, Thelyp- 

 teris, and intermingled grasses, as Paspcdum and other genera; also 

 some Scirpea, the pinnate Pteris, and certain ground Orchidacea', as 

 Bhtia and Calantlie ; the only difference from the Tutuila savanna, 

 consisting in a De,smod'nim now first making its appearance, together 

 with an Andropogon among tlie grasses. 



The natives being at war among themselves, our rambles on 

 shore were very much restricted, confined to the immediate neighbor- 

 hood of the anchorage ; but I made one excursion in a canoe, to the 

 heathen village of Mu, at the head of the lagoon-like inlet. 



The following plants were found growing on Tongatabu : 



(Stephania, bis No. 1 Taheiti to Samoa; recorded as) Cocculus ? ; no flowers. On the 



islet near the anchorage, rare.* 

 Thespesia populnea, bis (No. 1 Samoa). A tree, often a foot in diameter; smooth. 



Submaritime ; abounding along the sea-shore. 

 (Paritium) tiliaceum, bis (Brazil, and No. 1 Metia to Samoa). Submaritime; abounding 



along the sea-shore, and forming tangled groves as on Taheiti. 

 (Heritiera, No. 1); gen. Sterculiac. A tortuous, spreading, arborescent shrub ; leaves 



lanceolate, penninerved, the under surfiice silvery; axillary panicles; flowers unisexual; 



* Anona (squamosa, bis Taheiti to Samoa) A tree, twenty feet higli, the trunk a 

 foot in diameter; leaves broad-lauceolate, six to nitie inches lung; fruit smaller than 

 in A. cherimoya, and the acini more separate. Introduced (by trading and colonial 

 Whites). 



Cardamine? sarmentosa, bis (No. 1 Metia to Samoa). Introduced (by aboriginal settlers), 

 and growing around dwellings, rare. 



Sinapis nigra, (bis United States, and No. 1 Europe). A weed around the Mission-houses; 

 introduced by trading and colonial Whites. 



Brassica oleracea, (bis Taheiti, United States, and No. 1 Europe); the cabbage. Culti- 

 vated; introduced by trading and colonial Whites. 



