60 VISITS TO MADAGASCAK. chap. ni. 



grance of the flowers prove a perpetual source of enjoyment to 

 the inhabitants such as few other places can supply. 



I was glad to be able to add to my portfolio photographs 

 of a number of these rich and beautiful plants ; the engraving 

 on the preceding page exhibits a rare and graceful plant of 

 the palm species from Africa, and growing most luxuriantly 

 in the garden of a French gentleman at Port Louis. The 

 leaf resembles that of the cocoa-nut, but the stalks are united 

 at the crown of the plant as in the palmiste or areca, while 

 the rings round the enlarged cylindrical stem resemble those 

 of the latter. It was growing in the midst of pomegranates 

 and other plants in flower, and was the only specimen of the 

 kind that I met with in Mauritius or JNIadagascar. 



Soon after I had become a resident at Port Louis, I accom- 

 panied M. Le Brun at an early hour one morning to the 

 the bazaar or market, held not far from the landing-place. 

 This market, which occupies two large squares, is well fitted 

 up, and is covered in with the exception of a wide thorough- 

 fare through the centre of each square. In the eastern bazaar 

 were arranged, in separate localities, fancy birds in cages, 

 with poultry, including fowls, ducks, geese, and turkeys ; 

 different kinds of vegetables, many European as well as tro- 

 pical ; an abundant supply of good potatoes, with cabbages, 

 beans, fine stone turnips, onions, garlick, tomatoes, and capsi- 

 cums or chilis, yams, manioc, bananas, tamarinds, custard 

 apples, and pine apples. Then there were cocoa nuts, pistache 

 nuts, areca nuts, betel leaf, and many other vegetable produc- 

 tions new to me, all spread out upon the ground, with the 

 kinds of fruit then in season. Besides these, there were 

 seeds and grains in almost endless variety, lentils, rice, barley, 

 millet, maize, French beans, turmeric, saffron, and numerous 

 kinds of Indian grain. The seed trade appeared to be entirely 

 in the hands of the Coolies or Indians : each seller sat cross- 

 legged, frequently perched on a low stool, and surrounded by 



