14 
ST. HELENA. 
climates, that are there assembled together. The oak and the 
bamboo jostle each other; and the beautiful Ixias of the Cape are 
contrasted with the English bramble, which in many places nearly 
covers them. 
August ^3.— -The fair daughters of the Governor arrived this 
morning at the castle, drawn in a light carriage by oxen, the only 
animals adapted to ascend and descend Ladder Hill. They ac- 
companied us to the botanic garden, which, although there is a 
botanist appointed by the India Company, has no pretension to that 
title, as there has not been an attempt to collect even the indige- 
nous plants of the island. The garden in the town, which is open 
to the inhabitants, has a few desirable plants ; the mango, the cocoa- 
nut, the date, the real banian-tree, and other species of Ficus are 
thriving. The bamboo forms a pleasant shade ; and a very fine 
plant of Barringtonia is just out of bloom ; but which, much to 
my satisfaction, promises fair to perfect its seed. Erythrina corallo- 
dendron, and Melia azederac, are great ornaments at this moment. 
It is the depth of winter here, and the oaks have totally lost their 
leaves. 
August 2,6. — We rode to breakfast at the Plantation-house, and 
thence to Sandy Bay. The scenery is singular and magnificent. 
Sandy-Bay Ridge, to its highest summit, Diana Peak, is covered 
with verdure. The valley beneath is cultivated, and interspersed 
with cottages, among which our host's, Mr. Doveton, is eminently 
beautiful. The opposite side, naked, as when it arose from the great 
abyss, with several ragged rocks rearing their heads a considerable 
height above the red, white, and purple clay, which divides the 
hills into regular strata of unequal thickness, altogether forms a 
