RELATION DE l'iLE RODRIGUE. 331 



\_Here folloiv details on the localities where cultivable ground exists.'] 



Large timber is not common in Rodrigue island, for the finest 

 are not more than fifty feet high, and most of them are not 

 straight. I here give their names as they are called in Bourbon, 

 and commence with those which are in the greatest number, to 

 wit : — 



Bois roxige} wliich is very large, but it is not high, and bearing 

 branches fit to make ships' timbers {memhres de vaissea^ix, perhaps 

 memhrures ?). 



Bois imant"^ is neither large nor high, but throws out its 

 branches below ; then, growing nj)ward, it forms an agreeable 

 shade. This is the wood most fit for making the ribs of ships. 

 I have seen one of these trees cover with its branches nearly sixty 

 paces of ground. 



Benjoin^ is in large numbers, and exudes gum like that of ile 

 Bourbon. The largest which I have seen are from forty to fifty 

 feet in length, and two fathoms and a half in circumference ; but 

 these are rare, considering that they are for the most part 

 twisted, and rotten at the heart, whilst there are plenty of other 

 small Benjoins, which grow even in the rocks. 



There are numbers of trees which they call Afouche'^ (Affourche?). 

 These have no trunk, and are full of strong branches : they have 

 a gum, white as milk. 



There is a large quantity of Bois d'e'bene,^ about thirty to forty 

 feet high, and one fathom and a half in thickness (in circum- 

 ference ?). 



There is a little Bois de fer^\ it is neither high nor straight, 

 and is not found everywhere. 



1 Bois rouge., probably the i>o2s d'olive rouge (Elreodendron orieutale) 

 {Balfour., p. 33-i.) 



^ Bois i^uant ; the modern hois jmant, is the Fcelidia mauritiana, 

 {Balfour, p. 341.) 



3 Benjoin. Terminalia mauritiana. 



* Affouche. La foucJie rouge., or La fouche petite fcuille. Ficug 

 rubra, var. amblyphylla. {BaJfour, p. 368.) 



5 Bois d'e'bene. Diospyros diversifolia. {Balfour, p. 355.) 



" Bois de fer. Eugenia cotinifolia. (Balfour, p. 341.) 



