309 



now become an offensive nuisance. They have, moreover, 

 so far lost their reputation as a medicine, that they have 

 been transferred by the faculty from the column of thera- 

 peutics to that of dietetics, and are, in this latter quality, 

 collected on many of the plantations to feed the hogs. 



" Chamarel's house, like almost every other in the island, 

 is constructed of timber. The general predilection for this 

 material has arisen from the abundant supplies of it in the 

 vicinity of every plantation; from the portion of labour 

 which must, at all events, be employed in felling it to clear 

 the ground ; and from the expertness in fashioning it, which 

 is acquired by many of the slaves in the prosecution of this 

 labour. The time, however, is fast approaching, when they 

 must have recourse to more durable materials. The 

 diminution of the forest from the rapid extension of cultiva- 

 tion, will shortly render the use of stone a matter of 

 economy as well as of necessity. For this purpose, the 

 trap-rock of the Island is admirably adapted ; and every 

 part of the coast yields the very best material for making 

 lime. 



" The houses, in general, are built on a scale adapted 

 merely to accommodate the family. Pavilions, for the use 

 of strangers and casual visitors, are erected at a short 

 distance from the main building ; and the back ground is 

 occupied by the slave cantonment. With the turn for 

 improvement which the French are known to possess, it is 

 a matter of surprise, that these islanders never surround 

 their houses with verandahs, nor is it a common practice 

 even to plant trees near enough to shelter them from the 

 sun. The environs, however, are usually planted with 

 groves and avenues of ornamental trees, chiefly Mango^ 

 Tamarind, and Acacia, intermingled with the Cocoa and 

 Date-palms ; but above all, conspicuous, is the elegant 

 Badamier {Terminalia Catappa.) The branches of this 

 superb tree issue from the trunk in whorls, long, slender, 

 and perfectly horizontal. Seven, eight, or more stages of 

 similar configuration, but diminishing regularly according 

 to their height, give it the appearance of an inverted 



