375 



rises like lattice-work above the surface of the 

 waters. Shell-fish cling to this lattice ; crabs 

 nestle in the hollow trunks ; and the sea-weeds, 

 which the winds and tides drive toward the 

 coasts, remain suspended on the recurved 

 branches, that bend toward the earth. It is 

 thus that maritime forests, accumulating a 

 slimy mud between their roots, aggrandize the 

 domain of the continent ; but while they gain on 

 the sea, they augment but little in breadth ; for 

 their progress itself becomes the cause of their 

 destruction. The mangroves, and the other 

 vegetables with which they live constantly in 

 society *, perish as the ground dries, and they 

 are no longer bathed with salt water. Their 

 old trunks covered with shells, and half buried 

 in the sand, denote, after the lapse of ages, the 

 path they have followed in their migrations, 

 and the limits of the land which they have 

 wrested from the ocean. 



The Bay of Higuerota is very favourably 

 situate for examining Cape Codera, which pre- 

 sents itself in all it's extent seven miles distant. 

 This promontory is more remarkable for it's 

 size, than for its elevation, which, according 



* The following are the names of these plants found on 

 the continent, and on the islands. Avicennia nitida, a. guy- 

 anensis Rich., conocarpus racemosa, rhizophora mangle, 

 cocolloba uvigera, hippomane mancinella, echites biflora^ 

 suriania, strumpfia, the pinau palm-tree, &c. 



