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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 considered 

 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 Haveiisara, or Madagascar Nutmeg-tree, {Agatho- 

 phyllum aromaticum.) It is a handsome tree, and grows in 

 great perfection, but is cultivated 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 of 

 all the aromatics. 



" Though the rains are frequent in this district, there is 

 a great scarcity of springs, the ground being so open that the 

 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 brule we found fresh water in a hole 



