A BOTANIST’S RAMBLE IN CENTRAL AMERICA ; 
OK, 
A TRIP TO THE MAINLAND. 
Chapter I. 
Voyage from Jamniaa — Appearances of Old Providence — Island of San Andreas 
— Captains^’’ — "‘Yanliee Iraders^"' — Irade of the Island — Gocoanuts — Cur- 
rency — Cocoaiiut Diseases — Animal Life. 
f HE luxuriousness of the vegetation in many parts of Central 
America had been described by Belt and other travellers of 
a kindred nature to the author of The Naturalist in 
Nicaragua” with such realistic vividness, that it offered an in- 
ducement to anyone interested in Botanical research to seize 
upon the first opportunity that presented itself to pay a visit to its 
shores, to see for himself the wonders of a truly tropical flora. 
The opportunity having occurred to the writer, through the 
kind invitation of the Bev. Wm. Griffith to accompany him- on a 
short missionary tour in and about the neighbourhood of the 
great Lagoon of Chiriqui, was at once accepted. 
Having taken our passage on the Atlas stmr. Arran, which 
for some time past has been making regular trips to this coast, 
we set sail from Kingston, Jamaica, on Sunday, Nov. 8th, at 5 in 
the evening for our destination. We had not proceeded far 
down the harbour, however, before we were compelled to come to 
anchor, owing to a slight accident having happened to the ma- 
chinery. This was repaired during the night, and at daylight 
we were under weigh, and after dipping our flag at Port Eoyal 
to'H. M. Guardship, we made for the open sea through the south- 
ern channel. The concomitant disadvantages of a sea voyage 
usually observed among landsmen for the first day or two, were 
in this instance not particularly noticeable, for the weather was 
beautiful, and the sea as smooth as if the ship had been in har- 
bour. This unusual calm was said on all sides by those accus- 
tomed to judge, to be too good to last, and though we have since 
heard that their judgment was quite correct, still, while we were 
on board the weather continued everything that could be de- 
sired. 
Early on Wednesday the 11th, the island of Old Providence 
came dimly into sight on our starboard boWj presenting an out- 
line in form somewhat the shape of a cottage loaf. This island, 
the scene of many futile expeditions in search of buried trea- 
sure supposed to be concealed in bygone years by Buccaneers, 
was gradually passed during the morning, and soon after lunch 
the island of San Andreas, or Saint Andrews, loomed in the dis- 
