— 71 — 



refer to the existence in Madagascar, of a worm which feeds 

 on the leaves of the ' Ambrevade ' {Oajanus bicolor D. C) and 

 would prefer the cultivation of the ' Ambrevade ' to that of the 

 Mulberry -tree. But the silk produced by these worms has a 

 yellowish tint, and is very inferior in quality to that produced 

 by the silk worms fed on the Mulberry leaves. 



This is so well understood in Madagascar that an intelligent 

 gentleman, M. De Lastelle, has introduced both eggs of silk- 

 worms and Mulberry plants from China. 



The following is extracted from a letter addressed to Her 

 Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, Governor at Mauritius, by His 

 British Majesty's Consul at Madagascar, Mr. Packenham, in 

 reply to several questions from His Excellency :— 



Tamatave, 11th Augast 1869. 



" In regard to the native silkworm, little attention is paid 

 " to it in Madagascar — formerly the silkworm mothes, se- 

 " lected themselves the Ambrevade to lay on — and the whole 

 "process took place without care or attention on behalf of 

 " the natives, whose action was confined to simply winding 

 *' off the silk from with cocoon. 



" Later, the notorious Mr. De Lastelle sent to China for 

 " eggs, and introduced the Mulberry which thrives well in all 

 " parts of Madagascar ; a regular silk establishment was then 

 " formed at the capital, and several thousand pounds of a fine 

 " silk were produced — as far as I can learn, the regularly 

 " adopted plan of trays, in doors, answered aa regard moulting, 

 " spinning and laying, and Mulberry leaves were found supe- 

 '' rior to those of the Ambrevade. 



" There is onother silk in Madagascar, much esteemed on 

 *' account of its strength, which I am told, is collected in a 

 " state of floss in the interior and afterwards treated much 

 " the same as cotton." 



It is known that in the province of Assam, in India, there 

 is found a silk- worm which feeds on the leaves of the Castor 

 Oil plant Bicimis communis. This plant, like the ambrevade, 

 is very common in Mauritius. The insect also feeds on the 

 tender leaves of the Mango tree, Mangifera Indica, 



