TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 171 



mistake. There being no Tuna plants on the island ; and the 

 plant for the fortifications and for the enclosures against the 

 depredations of goats, being what is denominated the Mauritius 

 Cactus, I will request some baskets of the Tuna leaves, and of 

 Tuna seed to be sent here by the first opportunity, in the ex- 

 pectation that it may meet with attention, so as in a few years to 

 form fences and enclosures in James's Valley — thereby affording 

 an equally formidable fence, while its leaves will be a more 

 agreeable vegetable for its more acid nature. 



Having now stated. Honourable Sir, all that can be necessary 

 for me to say on the subject of this address, which I trust will 

 meet with your approbation ; I will take the liberty of trespassing 

 a little longer on your time, by mentioning what appears to me 

 of import, next in consequence to the increase of agriculture, 

 which has so successfully engaged your attention ; the benefits 

 resulting from it, I have heard acknowledged in the most honour- 

 able and gratifying manner, by such of the old soldiery as I have 

 met in my excursions, who have uniformly stated, that in the 

 reductions of the prices of articles of food, and particularly in the 

 abundant supply and reduced prices of potatoes, they have sub- 

 sisted better since your government commenced, than they ever 

 did before. 



The government, by taking agriculture on an extensive scale 

 into their own hands have done this general good : but from the 

 wide field that is yet open^ the whole of the interior of the island 

 for six or eight miles in every direction, being capable of cul- 

 tivation, a long perseverance must still be given to make this 

 island what it should be, favoured as it is by situation in the 

 tropic. I almost despair of its being effected, unless there are 

 some small divisions of land, and some villages established in 

 situations where there is water, there being in the interior only 



