see orchids, and other rare exotics stewed up in a glass
shed again, after seeing them thus luxuriant in the
open air.
The flowering trees, many of which have been introduced
into the gardens, are very lovely a week or two
after the rains. Poinciana regia, two or three species of
cassia, and Lagerstroemia regina, and L. indica, with white
lilac or rosy flowers, are common. Different kinds of
jasmines, ixoras, and hibiscus flower freely nearly all the
year, as also does Thunbergia laurifolia, which drapes trees,
and fences, the fire-blossomed pomegranate, the fragrant
oleander; there are also pools filled with the sunshadelike
leaves and rosy flowers of the Sacred Lotus, the
beauty of which rivals even the celebrated Lotus pools
of Japan. One or two honey-suckles and Jasminum
grandifiorum form tangled masses in the hedges, the
pearly flowers of Pancratium zeylanicum spring up from
the grass, sheltered here and there by caladium leaves,
and a scarlet hippeastrum forms glowing masses in old
gardens, and on waste places where houses have once
been situated.
Where many indigenous plants have died out, this
hippeastrum has become naturalised: the light sandy
soil and hot sun seem to suit its requirements; and it
increases so freely, that a barrow-load of bulbs might be
dug from a square yard of earth. Another introduced
plant, perfectly naturalised here, as also in Penang and
Singapore, is the dwarf and acrid Isotoma longijlora,
which bears snowy-white long-tubed flowers. The purple-
flowered “ Mudar ” (Calotropis gigantea), and the glorious
mauve wreaths of Bougainvillea spectdbilis, are in places
very beautiful. The climate is hot, especially during the
dry season; but about five o’clock p .m ., when the land
breeze sets in, it is cool and agreeable.
Mangoes, especially the fine Manilla varieties, and
pomoloes, grow well in the gardens and orchards, as also
do oranges of various kinds. The soil is so poor, however,
that in order to obtain fine fruit, it is necessary to
keep a herd of cattle, and to fold them at night, for the
sake of a good supply of manure. Where the trees are
planted on the grass, a circle beneath each is cultivated
with the S chunkal,” or heavy iron h o e ; and this is
regularly manured and watered. It is quite usual to see
the boles of mango and some other fruit trees gashed
with blows from a chopper at intervals, an operation
analagous to the ringing or strangulation formerly practised
in English gardens before root-pruning came into
fashion. This is done to induce kthe trees to bear fruit
earlier, and more abundantly.
There is only one species of bird endemic, a lively
black and white one (Copsychus amcenus), which frequents
gardens near the bungalows, and sings very sweetly
during wet weather; indeed, it was the only Eastern
song bird which reminded me of our dappled thrush at
home. Of eagles and fish hawks there are several species.
Tern are seen in flocks on neighbouring sand-banks.
Golden plover and snipe abound on the plain near the
shore, and there two or three sand pipers and rails. The
white crane, or “ padi bird,” is common; and the long-
pinioned frigate bird wheels overhead, far out of gunshot,
diving now and then into the sea after food with
wonderful velocity. The mellow whistle of the mino bird
is one of the most familiar sounds of the forest, especially
when the fruit of the wild figs ripen, and then white,
large blue, and pretty little green tree pigeons of many
kinds appear, attended by flocks of glossy, red-eyed
starlings.
The “ chuck, chuck ” of the goat-sucker (Caprimulgus