130 
BLUEFIELDS. 
larly over them to a surprising length, and hang 
about in loose festoons, mingling with the contorted 
stalks and broad noble leaves of Arums, the Five- 
finger {A, auritum), and other species. Especially 
characteristic of these walls are the plants called 
Nightshade, species of Echites, with handsome yellow 
or white flow^ers, somewhat resembling, at first sight, 
those of a Convolvulus. These are elegant slender 
climbers, which blossom profusely at most seasons 
of the year, and, being very common on fences, 
along with the noble Hogmeat {Ipomcea violacea), 
wEich exactly represents a Major Convolvulus of 
three or four times the usual dimensions, materially 
contribute to the gaiety of the fields in this island. 
The seed vessels of the Echites have a curious appear- 
ance; they are long, slender, and slightly spindle- 
shaped, always disposed in pairs at the end of a stalk, 
from which they diverge either at a very wide angle, 
or in opposite directions at right angles to the foot- 
stalk, like the head of the letter T. These plants 
have been named Nightshade because of their poi- 
sonous character ; they are not botanically allied to 
the true Nightshades : they belong, however, to an 
equally virulent order, Apocynece, An instance of 
the deadly qualities of these beautiful plants was 
named to me. Two men, not long ago, Vere found 
lying dead in the road : — the only clue to the cause 
of their decease was that a bottle of rum was found 
with them, from which they had been drinking, and 
which they had stopped with a plug made of the 
leaves of the Echites, growing in its usual abundance 
in the spot, instead of a cork. The alcohol had 
