98 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap, iv 



enjoyed the pleasure of feeling that I was no longer a 

 stranger in the place. 



Beau Bassin derives its name from its good supply of 

 water, contained in several capacious, and somewhat orna- 

 mental tanks or large reservoirs. The house, though not 

 modern, is cool, spacious, and convenient. The number of 

 pavilions in front, and of native huts in the rear, with cow- 

 sheds, stables, and coach-houses, give the establishment 

 almost the appearance of a village. The plantation itself 

 is said to be large ; but around the house were extensive 

 mango groves, with coffee and banana growing beneath the 

 trees, and an excellent kitchen-garden, amongst the curiosities 

 of which was an apple-tree in blossom which had frequently 

 borne excellent fruit. Several young trees, off-shoots from 

 the parent tree, were growing around. In front of the house 

 were a number of flower-beds of varied form and size, one 

 of the largest being surrounded with roses. The large 

 clerodendron, apparently falcata, was the most abundant 

 amongst the plants. Of these there were hundreds, some 

 large bushy plants exhibiting with great effect their tall 

 spikes of dazzling red flowers. Mingled with these was the 

 Larpenta capensis, and the purple lantana climbing over 

 the verandah and trellis-work which shaded the rooms ad- 

 joining the dwelling. I obtained a pleasant memorial of my 

 visit in some photographic views of the house, and several 

 portions of the gardens, as well as of a number of rare 

 and well-grown trees. Among the latter was a luxuriant- 

 growing Artocarpus integrifolia or Jack tree, with a number 

 of enormous fruit hanging nearly ripe from different parts of 

 the trunk and larger branches. This is a species of bread- 

 fruit, and though the flavour is strong, the pulp is eaten by 

 the Creoles; and the seeds, which are large and contain a 

 fleshy kernel, are said, when baked or roasted, to be quite 

 palatable. When I had fixed my camera, I asked one or 



