344 Dr. E. P. Wright on Lodoicea sechellarum. 



All, or at least the great majority, of these had been conveyed 

 to, and abandoned on, these islands by their masters, who 

 thought in this way to stop the spread of leprosy among their 

 gangs of slaves. The first effect of these representations was 

 the selection of the Isle Curieuse for a leper-establishment, 

 and the building of two leper-camps on its western side, at a 

 place well sheltered, and where a little stream runs down into 

 the sea — that on the right side of the stream for the male, and 

 that on the left side for the female lepers. Thither, in Octo- 

 ber 1829, George Forbes, an active and intelligent native of 

 Scotland, being appointed as overseer, proceeded, bringing 

 with him one leper. In a very short time afterwards the brig 

 ^ Hebe,' having visited the different islands inhabited by 

 lepers, arrived off Curieuse and landed some two hundred 

 more. In Mr. Forbes's letters of instruction, special directions 

 are given not to permit the leaves of the Coco de mer to be 

 cut, or the nuts to be eaten j and he is desired to plant, once a 

 month, all mature nuts found on the ground, at a distance of 

 ten paces from each other. Boats were forbidden to land, 

 unless in charge of some responsible officer. The lepers were 

 not allowed to leave the island. All fish and turtle caught 

 were to be divided ; but it was forbidden to eat the tortoise-shell 

 turtle, though its shell was to be sent to the Governor. Sar- 

 dines were not to be eaten until their heads were taken off and 

 they were well cleaned ; and, lastly, Mr. Forbes is urgently 

 admonished to be kind and forbearing to the unfortunate beings 

 placed under his care. 



It is interesting to read over these instructions, and to see 

 that even then care was taken to preserve the Coco de mer ; 

 but as I perceive, from the date of the letter of instruction, 

 that Sir W. J. Hooker's letters and description of the palm 

 would have reached the islands just at this very time, I do 

 not think I am far wrong in ascribing this care, in a great 

 measure, to a desire to meet his wishes ; and here I may add, 

 on the testimony of several Civil Commissioners, and as the 

 result of my own experience (for, as Acting Government 

 Medical Officer, I had the care of Isle Curieuse), that from 1829 

 until the present time, for now nearly forty years, Mr. Forbes 

 has acted up to the spirit as well as to the letter of his instruc- 

 tions, both as regards the beautiful palm-tree and the disease- 

 stricken inhabitants of the island. As this island is still 

 government property, we may be sure that as long as it keeps 

 its head above the encroaching waters of the Indian Ocean, it 

 will remain the home, as it is the cradle, of this species. 



It is, however, in Praslin that the Lodoicea is to be seen 

 in all its glory. Perhaps the forest easiest to visit is that on 



