332 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER . 
1769, from here he, with a scientific party, observed 
the transit of V enus. 
The ride thither lay through delicious groves of 
cocoa palm and bread-fruit trees, mingled here and 
there with citron, orange, bananas, and guavas. The 
tree-like oleander and beautiful red-flowered hibiscus 
towered above all, bright and blooming ; the entire 
scene being one not easily forgotten. 
The Broom Road (as it is named) ran on thus for 
a long way parallel with the shore, taking us under 
the shade of charming trees, and across innumerable 
little streams, where were seen numbers of native 
girls either bathing or washing their garments ; 
and occasionally on the way meeting many of the 
men in their clean white shirts and parti-coloured 
waist-cloths ; each, on passing, greeting us with a 
cheerful smile and a hearty “ Ya rana,” which means 
all kinds of salutations and blessings ; sometimes even 
stopping and shaking hands, with no other earthly 
object but kindly good-fellowship. 
The scenery, look where one would, was exceed- 
ingly pretty. Wherever there was a break in the 
glorious tropical foliage could he seen either pre- 
cipitous mountains, clad in refreshing green, and 
cleft by deep, cool gorges, or the fine sweep of the 
ocean, a brilliant, transparent blue, hound and 
bordered by a long white line of foamy surf dashing 
against the reefs. 
For some miles the road ran on, intersected occa- 
