India Rubber and Gutta Percha. 49 
strong wind from down river met us, and we found 
it necessary to leave the spot without further search, and 
to push hastily on for some place of protection from the 
wind and shower. Near this point, a short way above 
Bartica Grove, Mr. Pierce, the Church of England minis- 
ter of the station, has his residence. He was about to 
undertake a missionary journey to some Indians on the 
Potaro river, beyond the Kaieteur,* and had asked me to 
join him, having heard that I was anxious for an oppor- 
tunity to examine the flora of the unexplored region 
above and about the Fall, so I called to speak to him on 
the matter. He was, however, not at home, and we 
proceeded to Kaow island. Several plants of interest 
were seen here, and specimens gathered, but after a 
careful scrutiny of the vegetation, the Hevea was not 
detected. Much of the vegetation has been removed to 
make room for the leper hospital belonging to the 
Penal Settlement which is here established. On the 
way back to Kalacoon two or three more trees of the 
Hevea were discovered, also in full bloom. These were 
about twenty-five or thirty feet high, and twelve to 
fifteen inches in diameter of trunk. They were standing 
in a clump, on the edge of the low water-washed bank, 
and leaned out over the river. Night was drawing in, and 
prevented my entering to examine the forest. The 
leaves are trifoliate, apical, on long stalks crowded to- 
wards the ends of the branches, from between which the 
flower opens. The leaflets are entire, oblanceolate in shape, 
* On the return from a second journey to the Kaieteur, just a year 
later, Mr. Pierce with nearly his whole family was drowned in descend- 
ing Marahee fall. 
