32 
M E S U R I L. 
we with difficulty obtained specimens. The most remarkable of 
these were the Nymphea ccerulea Horf. Kew. ed. 2, Vol. iii., 
p. 294, Pistia stratiotes Linn. ; and a new species of jEsehy- 
nomene related to aspera, named by Dr. Browne, since my return, 
cristata. 
On our return we passed through a fine estate belonging to 
Signior Guedez, one of the most respectable merchants in the 
Settlement, which appeared to be in better order than any of the 
others we saw on the peninsula. 
In the afternoon we walked to the house of one of the planters, 
about a mile distant, in the village of Mesuril, for the purpose of 
seeing some native traders from the interior, of a nation called 
Monjou, who had come down with a cafila of slaves, (chiefly 
female) together with gold and elephants' teeth for sale. I was 
informed that they had been upwards of two months on their 
journey, having rested at times on their way, but that the dis- 
tance they had travelled might be got over in about forty-five 
days. The Portuguese spoke of the country inhabited by thi 
people as being nearly half way across the continent, though 
from the inquiries I subsequently made I have reason to think 
they were mistaken. 
Some of the Monjou said that they had been three months 
from home, others two, and another thought it might be accom- 
plished in one and a half, allowing for days of rest. Now if we 
take the period even of two months, and reckon the progress 
made at fifteen miles per day, it gives on a rough calculation 
nine hundred miles only, which falls very short of the centre of 
the continent ; moreover, I conceive the Monjou country to be 
