— 68 — 



heiglit of about 20 feet, with dark green leaves not unlike 

 those of the Nermm, and large clusters of pretty white flowers 

 which are pink in the centre. 



" The fruit is a fibrous drupe, which, when ripe, is like a 

 beautiful peach in color, shape and size. It contains a hard 

 nut, the kernel of which, although only a little bigger than an 

 almond, is sufficient to destroy twenty people. 



" 82. The " Calebassier " {^Stryclinos Vontac) ? is very com- 

 mon. The " Tanghin Rouge " (JEuijlwrlia Pyrifolia), and 

 "Bois Jasmin," a small tree belonging to Eujo^wrhiacecB. Tales 

 about this latter equal those about the Vpas and MancMceel 

 trees. It is as much dreaded in Seychelles, by the Creoles 

 of African descent, as those trees are by the inhabitants of 

 their respective countries. 



" 83. The large roots of Colocasla onacrorhiza are used, 

 when boiled, to feed pigs. Unboiled all the parts of the plant 

 are exceedingly deleterious. 



" A good proof of its noxious nature occurred when I was 

 last in Seychelles. 



" 84. The Creole medicinal plants, and the wonderful ciiteB 

 they are said to effect, are numerous. 



" 85. Among the indigenous plants which may be called 

 . curious are the Pitcher plant, a species of Pandanus, several 

 species of Loranths or Mlsseltee and a luminous Fungus, which 

 with fire-flies, shine bl'ightly in the Forests at night. 



" 86. The Pitcher plants are found in great abundance on 

 the tops of the mountains in Silhouette, and in three or four 

 ocalities in Mahe, especially on the Mountains between the 

 Black Forest and the >S'^. Louis Biviere Valley. 



'' 87. The species of Fandaivus alluded to, is very common 

 n the Seychelles Islands, and is a most singular tree. Its 



