of the Seychelles Archipelago, 357 



M. Baillon, the manager of the cocoa-nut plantation there, then 

 at Mahe; and, by appointment, we met him on the morning of 

 the 17th at Anse Nord-Ouest, where he had two whale-boats in 

 readiness, and at about 8 o'clock we embarked. As the wind 

 was dead ahead, there was nothing for it but to pull the whole 

 way ; and right well did our two crews pull for four hours and 

 a half against a head-sea and strong breeze and current, only 

 stopping to rest once for about five minutes. The distance is 

 over twelve miles. 



Silhouette is one large mass of granite rising very abruptly 

 from the sea to the height, 1 should judge, of over 2000 feet. In 

 many places there are acres of bare rock ; in others there is suffi- 

 cient soil for forest, which is being gradually cut away for the 

 introduction of cocoa-nut trees. The cocoa-nuts are now planted 

 more than halfway up the mountain, and it is probable that in 

 ten years none of the native forest will remain. The produce 

 last year exceeded £6000 in value, and will shortly be doubled. 

 The whole island is the property of one person. 



We remained at Silhouette a couple of days, most comfortably 

 entertained by M. and Mdme. Baillon ; and here we saw the 

 "Cateau vert'' at the edge of the forest, in a place some 600 or 700 

 feet high, where was a patch of maize ; but they had been so often 

 fired at that they would not come within shot. I saw also a 

 few " Mangeurs des poules," " Colibris," " Pigeons hollandais," 

 but could not see a single ''Serin;" and, indeed, M. Baillon 

 assured me it did not exist there. 



The " Tourterelle " and " Martin" have been introduced ; the 

 latter, I was told, about twenty years ago, and it is now very 

 common. 



With the exception of a narrow belt of sand along the coast, 

 now planted with luxuriant cocoa-nuts, the island of Silhouette 

 is the most difficult place to get about I ever was at. The 

 sides of the mountain, when they are not solid masses of rock, 

 are strewed with enormous blocks from six to thirty feet square, 

 over or round which you have to make your way, very often over 

 them ; so that a few hundred yards in a straight direction may 

 take almost as many minutes to accomplish, and I have no wish 

 ever to attempt another walk up the mountain. 



