bP LA PEfcOlttB. 2ffl 



more or lefs by means of a brace which confined 

 them two by two, and which was flid up and 

 down at pleafure throughout their whole length, 

 like thofe of our drums. A fmall flip of bamboo 

 bark ferved to make the firings vibrate, which 

 were elevated by the bridges. The accompani- 

 ment, although Very monotonous, feemed to af- 

 ford infinite pleafure to our guides, whole ear 

 "Was accuftomed to that kind of mufic. 



This habitation was furrounded by nutr 

 trees of no very forward .growth, and yet n< 

 full bearing; although at Amboyna 'people are 

 not in general very fond of cultivating them. 

 The 'environs formed a fine -orchard, where we 

 could not ftrfficienfly admire the brilliant flowers 

 of the eugenia Mcila-ciivnjis; we there remarked the 

 averrhoa carambda, the fruit of which we relirhed 

 Very much from its agreeable acidity. 



The -flirts of the fhore were embellifhcd by 

 all extenfive plantation of the fpec.ies of tree 

 called' afchynothehe gfartdlflora \ its flower, the 

 largeft o( that of any of the leguminous plants, 

 is commonly of a beautiful white, and alio fome- 

 times of a red colour. The natives often eat it 

 dreffed, and occalionally even raw as a falad. 



The bark of this tree yields a bitter extract, 

 which is admiuiftered as a tonic in fevers. 



The day was drawing near a clofe; the tide 



being againfl us ; we were obliged to keep very 



a A q clofe 



