15i IKTRODUCTIOK* 



tortoifes, fome of which welgli three hun- 

 dred pounds. In 1769, when I fpent a 

 month here in order to determine its pofition 

 with the utmoft exadtnefs, Secheyles and 

 the adjacent ifles were inhabited only by 

 monflrous crocodiles j but a fmall eftabli/h- 

 ment has been fince formed la it for the 

 cuhivation of nutmegs and cloves. In one 

 of thefe iflands, called the Ifle of Palms, 

 there is found a tree which bears that cele- 

 brated fruit, known by the name of the 

 cocoa of the Maldives, or fea cocoa* The 

 reader will find a defcription of it at the 

 end of the lift of plants growing in Mada- 

 gafcar. 



In this Lntrodu<ftion I ought to take no- 

 tice of thofe objects only which ftruck me 

 moft. Among the number of thefe is, the 

 port of Biego-Garcia, That ifland, which 

 we judged to be about twelve leagues in 

 circumference^ has a very pleafmg afped. 



Its 



9 



