— 66 — 



*' In Praslin, where it abounds and can be seen in per- 

 fection, the average height of the highest trees in the ravine 

 in which the mobt of them are growing, is from 80 to 90 feet. 



" A sight of that ravine vividly reminds one of the des- 

 criptions and pictures of vegetation in Louis Figuier's "World 

 before the Flood." Its leaves are from 14 to 18 feet in width, 

 and they are more in length. Their stalks, on young well 

 grown plants, are about 12 to 14 feet in length, and propor- 

 tionally thick and robust. I have seen them 20 to 25 feet long) 

 but slender and weak, where there was a struggle to reach the 

 light and air. 



" 73. The age of the trees before it bears fruit has, I think, 

 been exaggerated. The tree growing at Government House 

 at Port Victoria, which is quite a representative one in all 

 respects, flowered at about the 34th year of its age. It was 

 fertilized in July last, and the ovules were considerably swollen 

 in September. If successfully fertilized the time Avhich the 

 fruit requires to ripen will be easily ascertained. 



" 74. Tg those acquainted with the mode of germination, 

 habit of growth, flowering, and manner of bearing flowers of 

 that mascarine genus of palms called Latania, the Coco deMer 

 presents few pecnlarities, mth the exception of its size 



" 75. The hoiul is the base of the trunk, but much harder 

 and not so easily decomposed. It appears to be formed of the 

 bases of the leaf stalks which have gi'own and decayed before 

 the trunk of the tree appeared above the ground. 



" 76. Articles in almost infinite variety are made from the 

 young leaves o1 the Coco de Mer. Some of them useful as 

 hats, &c., and others ornamental. The leaves of the SteveU' 

 sonia '* Latanier feuille " are very useful for thatch. The out- 

 side slab of the trunk of the "Latte" {Verschoffeltia splendida)^ 



