1696.] THE STEONT-BOOM. 201 



There is a sort of Shrub call'd Slront-hoom^ or T-Tree, 

 which is extreamly Venomous. The middle of its Trunk is 



girandoles of flowers like the Indian chestnut. To these succeed a great 

 number of fruits, shaped like a large flat plum, covered with a rind, 

 which smells like turpentine. This fruit has a vinous and agreeable 

 taste ; and, but for its smell, might vie with the best fruits of Europe. 

 It is never prejudicial to those who eat it, and [ should think a whole- 

 some and pleasant drink might be made from it. This tree has one 

 inconvenience attending it, being covered with fruit at the time of the 

 hurricanes, which strip it of the greater part.", 



M. St. Pierre also mentions the Guava {Psidiwn sp.), of which there 

 are three species in the island — the Jamrosa (which includes three 

 species of Jamhosa ; the Papaye {Carica Papaya) ; the Badamier 

 {Termlnalia Catappa^ ; the Avoca, or alligator-pear (Per-'^ea f/raiissima) ; 

 the Jack {Artocarpus integrefolia) ; the Tamarind ; the Cashew-nut {Ana- 

 cardium sp.) ; the Cinnamon ; and one Cacao {Theohroma cacao). 



The Kavinsara (^Agathophjllum aromaticim) was introduced by M. 

 Poivre, as were also the Mangosteen and the Litchi, the clove, nut- 

 meg, and other valuable spice-trees. 



1 The Stronthoom of Leguat, or Mapoii of St. Pierre, is somewhat 

 difficult to identify. Baron Grant (p. 37) writes : " A large and very 

 uncommon tree is found among the rocks, whose substance is as soft as 

 the flesh of a turnip. It is called Mapou, or stinking wood, from its 

 offensive odour, and is considered unwholesome. M. Bernardin de 

 St. Pierre, writing from The Port, October 8th, 17G8, states: "Some 

 days ago I perceived a large tree in the middle of some rocks, and, 

 being desirous of cutting a piece with my knife, was surprised at the 

 whole blade entering without my using the least force. It was of a 

 substance like a turnip, and of a very disagreeable taste ; for some 

 hours after (although 1 did not swallow any part of it) my throat 

 was much inflamed, and felt as if pricked by pins. This tree is called 

 Mapou, and is looked upon as poisonous." Mr. Baker says : ^^ ]\Tapou, 

 in Mauritius, is Vitis Mappki., a harmless vine. Bols mapou., more 

 than one species of Pisonla, also harmless ; purgative, perhaps, but 

 not actively poisonous." He adds : '' I should think the poisonous 

 tree would most likely be a Slilluigla {Eiiphorhiacea;), or something 



of that kind " " There is a StiUuigUi Fanguina in Mauritius, which 



I infer, from the name, is poisonous. That sort of plants have an 

 acrid milky juice, and the Seychelles ally is superstitiously dreaded by 

 the native, called Bois Jasmin. The Mapou of the Plaine des Caffres, 

 in Bourbon, is stated by Maillard to be Moitinua roliuulifoUa. Moubniu 

 rotund'ifolia of Mauritius, in the herbarium at Kew, is labelled, says 



