SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 
35 
hot]] the native and European population. To pur- 
sue this object still farther, it was necessary that a 
general knowledge of the island should be obtained, 
and Sir Stamford resolved to make some excursions 
to the interior. Accounts of these he has given in a 
series of letters to his friends ; and as they contain 
much interesting information regarding the natural 
history of the island and its productions, we shall 
here notice some of the more important discoveries 
which were made. 
The first excursion extended only to the nearest 
range of hills which had not previously been visited 
by Europeans ; and on a part of the range, “ The Hill 
of Mists,” he selected a situation for a country resi- 
dence, not very favourable, if we may judge from 
the name, but it commanded an extensive view of 
the lower country, and was subjected to a less degree 
of heat. The second was to the southern residencies, 
and the Passuraah country, and is remarkable for 
the discovery of the gigantic parasitic flower, destined 
to hand to posterity the names of its discovei’ers — 
Rafflesia Arnoldi.* 
“ On the next morning, at half-past five, we com- 
menced our journey towards Passumah on foot, the 
party consisting of myself. Lady RaflSes, Dr Arnold, 
and Mr Presgrove, the resident at Manna, with six 
native oflicers, and about fifty coolies (porters), car- 
rying our food and baggage. Our journey lay near 
* Dr Arnold, who accompanied Sir Stamford in many of 
his excursions, but lately fell a victim to the climate. 
