330 
benefit of more frequent showers than most other parts of the 
island, its soil is, in consequence, more productive, and the pro- 
gress in clearing the land more rapid. We remained for a night 
at the habitation of M. La Renaudie, an old gentleman who 
has the character of being the most loyal man in the whole 
island. Symptoms of attachment to the British, prematurely 
betrayed on our first attack on Bourbon, would probably have 
cost him his life; but for the timely arrival and success of the 
second expedition, by which he was fortunately rescued from 
the clutches of Governor de Caen, who had ordered him up 
to Mauritius to stand his trial for high treason, 
* The chief produce of La Renaudie's estate is the Clove; 
and on our arrival, we found the whole family busily employed 
in gathering the crop. Though the produce was consid 
this year as under an average, he calculated on a return of 
300 cwt., and stated the ordinary market-price at half a dollar 
the pound. They carefully collect the flower-stalks of the 
clove, and extract from them, by distillation, an oil which 
possesses the valuable qualities of the spice. It was here I 
first saw the Ravensara, or Madagascar Nutmeg-tree, ( Agatho- 
Phyllum aromaticum.) It is a handsome tree, and grows in 
great perfection, but is cultiyated merely as an object of 
curiosity, no use being made either of its leaves or fruit, 
though both of them are highly aromatic. The only part of 
the fruit possessed of the aroma is the fleshy coat investing 
the shell. To the taste, I could perceive scarcely any 
difference between it and the clove ; but as I have no preten- 
sions to the acuteness in that sense which distinguished the 
renowned family of the Panzas, I must yield the point to those 
who insist on discerning in the Ravensara a combination 
all the aromatics, i ; 
“Though the rains are frequent in this district, there 5 
a great scarcity of springs, the ground being so open that 
water filters instantaneously through, and appears no more 
until it arrives nearly at the level of the sea. From a spring 
in this situation, the establishment of M. La Renaudie 
derives its whole supply for a great part of the year. Even 
in the midst of the Pays brûlé we found fresh water in 8 
