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height of thirty feet. It is very slender, and its branches, 

 loaded with leaves, bend downwards. The spice, so well 

 known by the name of the Clove, is the flower-bud of this 

 tree, collected before it expands into a blossom. The peri- 

 carp, seated under the flower, is club-shaped, and of a blood- 

 red colour. The flowers are disposed in a sort of umbel at 

 the extremity of the branches, and are gathered as soon as 

 they show a disposition to expand. After a few days' ex- 

 posure to the sun they are packed up in bags for exportation. 



" For the subsistence of the slaves, a considerable portion 

 of the ground is devoted to the culture of Manioc, {Jatropha 

 Manihot) ; the stem of this shrub grows to the height of six 

 or seven feet. The bark is of a purple colour, and studded 

 with tubercles left by the fallen leaves. The stems selected 

 for the reproduction of the plant are cut into junks, and set in 

 the ground at the distance of four feet asunder. The lower 

 end pushes out roots in all directions, and from the upper a 

 new stem is gradually evolved. Each plant produces several 

 fusiform roots resembling a carrot, but much larger. The 

 period of growth in this plant is influenced in a remarkable 

 degree by situation. On this plantation it aiTives at maturity 

 in fifteen or eighteen months, whereas in the low districts of 

 the island it requires for that purpose no less than three 

 years. Manioc constitutes the ordinary food of the slave 

 population. About three pounds of the root, grated, and 

 baked into as many cakes, is the daily fare. Whether boiled 

 or baked under the ashes, the Manioc is of a much finer and 

 more glutinous texture than either the yam or potatoe. It 

 appears to have a greater proportion of amylaceous matter in 

 its composition, and consequently possesses more of the nutri- 

 tive principle. The soldiers were at first much prejudiced 

 against it as an article of food ; but they became insensibly 

 reconciled to the use of it, and in the course of time preferred 

 it to every other vegetable with their salt beef and pork. 



" Indian Corn {Zea Mays) is another article of extensive 

 cultivation on this estate, both for the use of the family and 

 for the slaves. Ground, by the aid of a hand-mill, into a 

 coarse meal, it is boiled and served up in the same manner as 



