ISLANDS IN THE HARBOUR. ' 
21 
Ipecacounha Blanca of Piso, and the Viola Ipecacuanha of Linnaeus, 
known under the name of the false Ipecacuanha. 
During the time I remained at the Botanic Garden, I received 
every possible attention from S. Gomez, and lamented much that 
the advance of the day obliged me to quit it when I had seen only 
a small portion of its treasures. 
As I returned to St. Sebastian, my path was illuminated by 
myriads of fire flies, whirling in the air, or lighting on trees. At a 
distance these insects resembled stars of great brilliancy, but as I 
approached them, their rapid and varied motion, and their vivid 
scintillations amidst dense foliage, disclosing patches of its most 
attractive hues, exhibited a transporting scene of novelty a p(d beauty. 
It was perhaps equalled by the waves of silvery light, over which 
the boat glided that carried me from the shore to the Alceste. 
One more excursion completed my opportunities of examining the 
scenery and productions of Bio. In this I visited many of the 
islands, scattered in great numbers over its harbour. These are much 
diversified in their forms, but are all of a similar geological struc- 
ture. Their basis is granite, with large flesh-coloured crystals of 
Felspar. Their surface is a thin but rich soil of a red colour, and 
formed by the decomposition of the rock beneath. They are clothed 
with a luxuriant foliage, mingled with blossoms, whose nolour and 
fragrance is only surpassed by the flavour and refreshing qualities of 
their fruits. Oranges, bananas, Cashew apples, and water melons, 
are their common produce. 
These islands vary very much in size, being from 200 yards to one 
mile in diameter, and are frequently occupied by a single habitation. 
The oranges which grow on them were larger, more juicy, and of a 
better flavour than any I had tasted from the main land. The sailors 
were permitted to gather them in any quantity, with no other request 
on the part of their owners, than that care should be taken not to 
break the branches of the trees. 
These well clothed islands are in some respects less interesting 
than the bare rocks in their neighbourhood, which rise in isolated 
