VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR, II 



The long ftay which M. de la Bourdon- 

 nais made in the bay of Antongil^ to repair 

 his fhattered venels, filled hira widi regret 

 during his whele life, that he had not ac- 

 quired more kaow ledge of the produdions • 

 of Madagafcar while he was governor of the 

 ifles of France and Bourbon. This cele- 

 brated man was fully fenfible of the utility 

 which that l^ge ifland might be to the co- 

 lony over which he had prefided. 



Timber for building houfes and conftrud- 

 ing fliips, pitch and tar, whale oil, falt-fi(h 

 of all kinds, indigo, tobacco, manufa£tured 

 hemp and flas, with cotton and different 

 kinds of filk, appeared to him very impor- 

 tant objeds of commerce. He admired with 

 what dexterity the women of Madagafcar 

 weave thofe beautiful pieces of ftuff, .which 

 fervc them for clothing ; fome of them are 

 made of the filaments of the leaves of a 

 plant called ravcn^ others more highly va- 

 in e4 



