.33l 
excavated in the sand, within three or four miles of the sea, 
Such springs may be looked for with a certainty of finding 
them round the whole coast. The known laws of hydrostatics 
would indeed teach us to expect water in all such situations, 
not only in this island but in every part of the globe. 
* We left La Renaudie's about sunrise, and shortly 
thereafter crossed the River de lEste, which bounds the 
district of Ste. Rose on the north. This is the largest and 
most impetuous torrent in the whole island. Every other 
river has its periods of quiescence; this is perpetually in an 
uproar. Even at the time when we crossed it, though the 
stream was hardly five yards over, the passage was not effected 
without some risk, its depth and rapidity rendering it always 
unsafe, Its winter channel is a quarter of a mile in breadth, 
and paved with enormous masses of stone rolled down from 
the mountain, and wedged against each other. 
* After crossing the river, the road leads along a belt of 
alluvial land close by the shore. The acclivity of the moun- 
tain on the left hand is cleared to a great height, and covered 
with flourishing plantations. This district enjoys, in common 
with Ste. Rose, the benefit of copious showers from the east- 
ward, which enhance its fertility. After an easy ride, we 
arrived in the evening at the habitation of M. Hubert, where 
We took up our lodgings for the night, Next morning we 
breakfasted at the house of M. de Jean, in the district of Ste. 
Susanne, and afterwards walked through his garden, where 
| for the first time saw the Garcinia Mangostana and G. Gam- 
bogia. The Litchi trees (Dimocarpus Litchi) in this garden 
Were so loaded as to render it necessary to have their branches 
Propped, to prevent their breaking down under the weight 
of the fruit, The nature of this fruit does not seem to be 
Well understood by Botanists. In all our systematical works 
it is termed a berry; but it is in reality a two-valved cap- 
Sule, (the second germen proving always abortive,) containing 
? single large seed, or rather nut, invested with a fleshy 
arillus. This last, which is the only eatable part of the fruit, 
‘S entirely unconnected either with the nut or the capsule, 
*Xcept at the very base. It is open and jagged at the top, 
