AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 493 



end of three hours, we reached the half-way station ; and two hours 

 more brought us to the summit of the mountain. We remained here 

 a short time only ; and then descended to the half-way station, where 

 we passed the night. The component rock was nowhere exposed on 

 the upper portion of the mountain, and very rarely lower down on 

 the flanks ; the only observed spot being in the bed of a water-course, 

 where its character could not conveniently be ascertained; but there 

 was nothing volcanic in its appearance. — Rain accompanied us all 

 the way up and down, and throughout the night ; and as soon as 

 there was light enough on the morning of the 18tli, or about 6 A.m., 

 we again set out ; and at the end of five hours, arrived at the Mission. 

 In the afternoon, we returned to Santa Cruz; and at 9 p.m., re-em- 

 barked in our canoe. 



Early in the morning of the 19th, we landed at Bangs : where 

 there is a hot spring; a copious flow of water gushing out in several 

 spots near the margin of the lake; but with the temperature not very 

 near the boiling point. After an hour or more, which I spent in col- 

 lecting plants in the vicinity, we again embarked ; and proceeding 

 through the lake and its outlet, reached the city before 8 p.m. in the 

 evening. 



On the 20th, I made a short excursion among the marshes in the 

 environs of the city ; and in the afternoon, returned on board the Vin- 

 cennes. — At an early hour on the morning of the 21st, the Vincennes 

 sailed from Manila; proceeding down the Bay. 



Character and composition of the Vegetable Growth. As through- 

 out the Southern Polynesian Groups: species of Ficiis continued 

 abundant; together with Elatostemas ; Cyrtandras ; Freycinetias ; 

 species of Piper, both shrubs and woody vines; and Urticeous sliruhs : 

 a Cunoniaceous plant being also present, notwithstanding the Northern 

 Latitude. 



On the other hand, in place of the natural openings being more or 

 less fern-covered, and from the coarsely-herbaceous character of the 

 grasses not well-adapted for pasturage, proximity to the continental 

 unwooded districts of Tropical Asia was now manifest : creeping 

 small-leaved Desmodiums replaced in the open ground the Trifoliums 

 of Northern climates; humble Justicias and Grokdarias were inter- 

 mingled ; and the border very generally consisted of Flemingia bushes. 

 In all situations, AcanihacecB had become more abundant and various ; 

 while among woodland plants, species of Calamus, prominent climbing 



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