eobin’s kiver. 
87 
relief; but the coolness of a spot that remains en- 
wrapped in deep shadow in the fore part of the day, 
where the dew of the night lies collected in the 
hollow leaves, and glitters on the blades of grass, 
long after all moisture has been dissipated around, 
is pecuharly refreshing. Four miles of a very rocky 
road, bounded, on the upper side at least, by a belt 
of high shrubs, that much remind us of the tall, lux- 
uriant, uncut hedges that we see in many parts of 
England, lead through the estates of Belmont and 
Shafton ; the former apportioned out in small negro 
allotments, and cultivated in gardens ; the latter a 
‘‘ pen,” that is, a grazing farm. The hedgerow-like 
shrubs are gay with the beautiful scarlet blossoms of 
the Morass-bark (^Malvamscus arhoreus)^ in particular 
abundance. The rich vegetation of the negro gar- 
dens, surrounding their cottages, many of which are 
neat and pretty, forms a pleasing interchange with 
the broad sunny pastures, studded with clumps of 
the peculiarly dense and massive Mango-trees, under 
the shade of whose dark foliage, the cattle are con- 
gregated, and peacefully ruminating. The purple 
leaves of the Dragon’s blood grow in thick tufts out 
of the crevices of the loose walls, on the top of which 
many withes and cactaceous plants creep in loose 
confusion ; and beside them spring up luxuriantly 
Annotto bushes, the fruit of which is so much used 
to give a heightened colour to cocoa and chocolate. 
Presently we open the wide pastures of Robin’s 
River, through the midst of which runs the little 
stream that bears the same name. The sun is by 
this time high, and pours down slantingly on our 
