126 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



regions lias sent over to Europe from twenty to 

 twenty-five thousand specimens, in botany and 

 zoology. La Gabrielle is on a far-extending range 

 of woody hills. Figure to yourself a hill in the 

 shape of a bowl reversed, with the buildings on 

 the top of it, and you will have an idea of the ap- 

 pearance of La Gabrielle. You approach the 

 house through a noble avenue, five hundred toises 

 long, of the choicest tropical fruit-trees, planted 

 with the greatest care and judgment ; and should 

 you chance to stray through it, after sunset, when 

 the clove-trees are in blossom, you would fancy 

 yourself in the Idalian groves, or near the banks 

 of the Nile, where they were burning the finest in- 

 cense as the Queen of Egypt passed. 



On La Gabrielle there are twenty- two thousand 

 clove-trees in full bearing. They are planted 

 thirty feet asunder. Their lower branches touch 

 the ground. In general the trees are topped at 

 five- and- twenty feet high; though you will see 

 some here towering up above sixty. The black 

 pepper, the cinnamon, and nutmeg are also in 

 great abundance here, and very productive. 



While the stranger views the spicy groves of 

 La Gabrielle, and tastes the most delicious fruits 

 which have been originally imported hither from 

 all parts of the tropical world, he will thank the 

 government which has supported, and admire the 

 talents of the gentleman who has raised to its 

 present grandeur, this noble collection of useful 

 fruits. There is a large nursery attached to La 

 Gabrielle, where plants of all the different species 

 are raised and distributed gratis to those colon- 

 ists who wish to cultivate them. 



