43 



PLATE XII. 



GUAHAM. 



LOWER SAVANA DISTRICT. 



March. 



Wheee the old volcanic soil of the island prevails, the steppe-like character 

 already commences in the narrow valleys adjoining the mangroves. Even in places 

 little favourable it principally shows itself in the predominance of social grasses, 

 which, in these warm valleys, well watered during the rainy season, generally con- 

 sist of colossal species, mostly of the sugar-cane tribe. At this time of the year 

 they are dry, but still well preserved, and afford as pretty as characteristic an 

 aspect. The tall and stately bamboo (7 | 8 d), playing an important part in some 

 of the valleys near the shores, — for instance, in the Bay of Umata, — surely bears 

 much resemblance to the large Bambusa arundinacea, so common about Manilla, 

 and is perhaps identical with it; in that case making it difficult to decide 

 whether it has not been introduced from there and become naturalised here. The 

 same question suggests itself with regard to the other plants here represented ; for 



instance, the papaw (Carica Papaya, Linn.) ( 2 ; 2 | 3 b J growing isolated 



about the outskirts of the woods. The turf in the extreme foreground of our 

 picture is partly formed by the widely diffused Convolvulus maritimus, which here 

 retreats some distance from the shores of the sea. In its neighbourhood we behold 

 the cocoa-nut palm, the natural associate of man, so common on the shores of the 

 island, and used by the inhabitants in various ways, especially for making toddy, 

 or palm wine, which in a thickened state constitutes a well- flavoured and nutritious 

 syrup, but, after fermentation, an intoxicating beverage. Behind this palm tower 

 stately forest trees, amongst which may be distinguished a couple of wild bread- 

 fruit trees (Artocarpus incisa), common in all the woods of the island. Amongst 



e 



