58 
GOVERNOR AND FORT MAJOR. 
the Island of St. Antonio, for supplies of food, which 
they receive in exchange for the Lichen Orchilla, a beau- 
tiful purple die growing abundantly in the rocks, and 
lime, prepared by burning shells. The Governor, 
Capitan L. Bans, appeared to be an affable person, and 
anxious, so far as his means would enable him, to be 
civil. He is of English extraction. His very small 
salary is so irregularly paid, that he must at times not 
only have great difficulty in maintaining the dignity of 
his office, but be put to much personal inconvenience. 
A coloured officer, who came on board in the double 
capacity of Master of the Port and Fort Major, amused 
every one by suddenly merging his official visit and 
capacity into that of agent to the laundress, by 
saying : “ Me next man gubberna, me Major of 
de Fort, and my wife very happy to wash officer 
clothes.’’ 
The naturalists profited by our detention, to make 
longer and more fruitful excursions than they had been 
able to do at Madeira and Teneriffe. Dr. Vogel antici- 
pated but little promise in the burnt-up and arid ap- 
pearance of the island. He commenced his researches 
at the only green spot he could see, in one of the two 
principal valleys, descending from the central moun- 
tain region, and found there Tamarix Senegalensis, 
a shrub from six to seven feet high, and sometimes 
as a small tree. It is the only plant indeed, almost 
the only object in these ravines, which casts a shade. 
“ After a search of four hours, climbing several hills 
