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300 LOUD Howe's island.
It is somewhat semicircular in form, about 4-J miles in length, and 1}
miles at its widest part. On its southern extremity there are two
mountains, over 2500 feet high ;
from the base of these to the northern
end, where the ground again rises to an elevation of about 1200 feet,
the intervening space is of a low, undulating character. The whole of
the island is densely covered with a vegetation mainly consisting of
trees, shrubs, and Palms, there being no barren spots upon it, except-
ing the precipitous cliffs of the mountains and coast. From this de-
scription of its size and breadth it will be apparent that the greater
part of the island is subject to the effects of the sea breeze ; yet, on
the southern and most exposed side, Palms and exogenous trees grow
down to high-water mark, and, except in being dwarfed, seem to be
otherwise entirely unaffected by exposure.
After passing the first belt of trees, a species of Pig (Ficus) abounds,
and occupies much of the low-lying grounds. In general appearance
it greatly resembles F. macrophjlla of our eastern coast. It differs,
however, from that plant by its smaller fruit and foliage, by the under-
part of the leaves being more ferruginous, and by its great tendency
to produce adventitious roots from its branches, which, after reaching
the ground, become stem-like, so that in many instances it is difficult
to determine the original trunk. In this respect it is the most remark-
able species of Mcus I have met with in this part of the world. The
largest tree of the kind which I noticed was, as nearly as possiidc,
about 100 yards from tlie extremity of the branches on one side to
that on the other, and had very numerous root-stems. It was a glori-
ous sight, and one long to be remembered. In two or three instances
these trees were found forming, as it were, a circle round an open space.
This, it was plain, was caused by the original tree dying off entirely in
the centre, and its branches in consequence becoming so many separate
individuals. It is called Banyan by the settlers, after its great proto-
type of Indian notoriety. No other species of Ficm was observed.
Among these Pigs, and in every situation upon the island, whether
high or low, to the extent of my investigations, two similar, but very
distinct species of Areca Palm abound, one of which is called by the
settlers" the Cabbage, or Thatching Palm, from the fact of its fronds
being the only material used for thatching upon the island. This is
numafcd by the base of the foot-stalk of the frond doubling just below
the pinna?, at which point it is worked on a batten, secured in the roof