346 
BOTANY. 
on the fingers when spinning, or occasionally for 
decorating the person, it is called Effu in the Aku, and 
Alii in Haussa. Most of the manufactured articles 
^brought on board were of excellent description, con- 
sidering the rude implements used : — swords and 
daggers well tempered, and some of the blades 
ornamented with attempts at Arabic characters ; 
calabashes very neatly carved, and dyed of various 
colours. 
The trees in this neighbourhood are of large size, 
especially the Adansonia digitata or Baohob^ and a 
remarkable variety of Sarcocephalus ; while among the 
brushwood, the CeratophylluSy Salvinias, and a leafless 
Euphorbia, were abundant ; the milky juice of the last 
plant is said by the natives to be extremely acrid, and 
the least quantity causes blindness if applied to the 
eyes. 
Previously to leaving England, we had been assured 
there was a species of cactus very similar to, if not the 
same as, the true Opuntia cocci, but we looked in vain 
for it, and were, with regret, obliged to see the insects, 
we had brought so far and so carefuUy, perish for the 
want of the necessary food. Every one of the plants 
we had taken on board at Teneriffe were overrun and 
destroyed by the large colonies of cochineal which had 
formed on them. 
Mr. Toby, mate, had a very bad night, and we feared 
he could not get over it — two new cases to-day. A 
man brought a small l)asket of raw cotton from 
