304 
THE BOCIgUA. 
high as St. Paul’s, in the crevices of which grow many 
small and slender Fan-palms {Thrinax), the plaited 
fronds of one waving against the roots of its next 
neighbour. It was now dry weather, but it is said that 
when the seasonal rains have been particularly heavy, 
a cataract pours down from the very summit of this 
lofty rock, breaking into a cloud of mist and spray 
before it reaches the distant river below. Surely this 
must be a spectacle of wonderful sublimity 1 
The rocky sides of the ravine were profusely 
fringed with the grass-like tufts of a Bromeliaceous 
plant {Pitcairnia\ displaying spikes of long scarlet 
blossoms ; and as we approached the termination of 
the gorge, a Bletia arrested my eye, agreeing in habit 
with that of Bluefields mountain, but with blossoms 
of a most rich and gorgeous purple hue. I secured 
as many bulbs of this fine terrestrial OrcMdeous plant 
as I could find, as well as roots of the Pitcairnia. 
Near Spanish-town, a small shrub growing by the 
road-side, displayed spikes of Verbena-like blossom 
of bright violet, which afforded me some ripe seeds. 
Thus terminated our very pleasant, and not unprofit- 
able excursion. 
This romantic ravine received additional interest a 
few days after our visit, by the occurrence there of a 
bird of singular brilliancy of plumage, the Scarlet 
Tanager {Pyranga ruhra)^ which had never before 
been noticed as an inhabitant of Jamaica. The fact 
was communicated to me by Mr. Hill, after my re- 
turn to Bluefields, in the following words. 
‘‘You will learn with much interest, that on the 
Thursday after we made our traverse from St. Thomas 
