IB A omm.ih AMj^EiUA I 
were unxious to make the mouth of the river before darkness set 
in. Getting under weigh again we had a tine and favourable 
breeze to assist us in making our way over an open stretch of some 
30 miles of water. We encountered several squalls, and numerous 
others were seen in the distance, which made the sea very 
lumpy, and at times occasioned a dash of water over the side. 
W^e arrived off the bar at about 5 p.m. and found it covered 
with surf, only a very narrow channel of still water being observ- 
able, and on that also at times the rollers were breaking heavily. 
Our Captain,” however, having made necessary preparations 
and watching for a favourable opportunity, put his boat at it, the 
remainder of the crew meanwhile^ — standing by — prepared for. 
eventualities. . In a second or two, we were among the breakers, 
and our boat grounded or bumped slightly on the bar, when the 
crew immediattdy rose to their feet, and with all their force 
commenced poling to get over, ere a breaker should burst upon 
us. In this they were successful, and we had the satisfaction of 
seeing the next roller break too far away to do anything but 
assist us in clearing the shallows. W^e were now in smooth 
water, and in a few minutes afterwards we entered the mouth of 
the WahI'Biakra. 
On entrance into the river we found it a swift flowing stream 
some 50 yards in width, its banks on both sides completely 
covered with a majestic palm locally known as the “ Silicoo.” 
This tree is known to Botanists under the name of Baphia 
TtEDIGERA, Mart., and according to the authors of Genera 
Plantarum” it is the only American species of the genus, the 
remaining five or six, which constitute all at present known, being 
natives of Tropical Africa and Madagascar. 
Messrs. Bentham and Hooker give the following as the 
habitats of the genus : — 
“ Africa tropida et Madagascarise incolm et una Americana 
ab Amazonum ostia ad Nicaraguam extensa.” 
It is a handsome and noble tree and appears to exult in the 
swampy alluvial deposit which is a characteristic of the district 
for some miles inland. The large quantity of trees and their lux- 
uriant growth without doubt, form one of the provisions of nature 
for rendering such tracts of country habitable for human beings, 
and probably exert in this their own home an equally beneficent 
inEuence on the hygiene of the neighbourhood, as do the Euca- 
lyptus, and other trees of luxuriant growth, in situations where 
from the dampness of the locality their presence is required to 
absorb the superabundant moisture.- In an elegant illustrated 
I rench work entitled Les Palmierb,” edited by Mon. Roth- 
