A.FRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



339 



the old stocks grubbed up; and much of the ground under tillage had 

 been burned over. 



The Vincennes sailed early in the morning of the 29th, and the 

 wind favoring, arrived towards evening at Naloa. After six weeks' 

 absence, I revisited the village on the main land ; where, by an unex- 

 pected development, the Erijtkrina trees around dwellings had parted 

 with their leaves, and put forth a showy dress of scarlet ilowers ; 

 "the time for planting yams" had arrived, but whether such an indi- 

 cation is required by the natives, I did not ascertain. 



About 1 P.M. on the 30th, the Vincennes sailed; and the wind 

 highly fjivoring, arrived in about four hours at Muthuata. After an 

 absence of four weeks, I found the upland now manifestly suffering 

 from drought. 



On the 9th of August, the Vincennes and other vessels of the 

 squadron sailed, continuing onward; and on the 10th, arrived at 

 Mali ; the country as before all the way bare of forests, but the hills 

 much less elevated than at Mutliuata. — On the 11th, the vessels 

 entered the Mali Passage leading through the coral reefs, and regained 

 the broad ocean. 



Chakacter and composition of the vegetable growth. Leaving, 

 as before, the number of species, and regarding the vegetable growth 

 in mass, as it meets the eye ; there seemed to be eight prevailing 

 Tribes of plants, occurring in the following order of frequency : 



1. FiUces, or ferns. The most abundant Tribe, as on the more 

 Eastern groups. 



2. Graminaceai, or grasses. Holding the second rank; on account 

 of the great extent of the unwooded Leeward portion of the group. 



3. UrticacecB. The species, with one or two exceptions, woody; 

 consisting of shrubs, and of a very considerable variety of forest- 

 trees. 



4. Myrtacece. Mostly large shrubs; but including some trees of 

 medium size. 



5. EupJiorhiaceoi. Shrubs and trees, in very considerable variety. 



6. Cojfkicece. Mostly shrubs ; but including some climbing species, 

 and some low herbs. 



7. ApocTjnacem. Consisting of shrubs and woody vines ; and even 

 including trees of large size. 



8. Pandanaceoi. Especially if Paudavus utUis be indigenous. 

 Next after the above, the following seven Tribes of plants were 



